Trump Looking Forward to Meeting Kim, But in Meantime Wants 'Maximum Pressure'

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was looking forward to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, adding that there was a good chance Kim would now "do what is right for his people and for humanity."

In addition, Trump noted in his tweet that North Korean leader's meeting with Chinese president went well and Kim now looks forward to "meeting with me." Earlier, North and South Korean media outlets confirmed the meeting between Kim Jong Un and  Xi Jinping  after South Korean intelligence reported that Kim had visited Beijing with his wife. 

For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility. Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018

Trump's statement comes after the North Korean leader confirmed willingness to maintain a dialogue with Washington and hold a meeting with the US president.

READ MORE: China Hopes North Korea, US to Take Measures for Start of Dialogue

Earlier in March, the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported that Kim spoke about the intention to normalize relations with Washington during a meeting with a South Korean delegation in Pyongyang, noting that his final goal was to sign a peace agreement with the US and establish diplomatic ties, possibly including the opening of a US embassy in Pyongyang.

On March 9, Trump accepted the invitation to meet with Kim by the end of May following months of heightened tensions and exchanges of frequent military threats between the two leaders. Donald Trump said later that he expected "tremendous success" in solving the North Korean issue, saying that he expected Pyongyang to cease its ballistic missile and nuclear tests, as well as denuclearize.

The thaw in ties between Pyongyang and Washington followed months of escalating tensions caused by North Korea's missile and nuclear tests carried out in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Moscow welcomed the announcement of a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as it is needed for the settlement of the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula.