Trump open to further talks with DPRK
U.S. President Donald Trump is open to having further talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), National Security Adviser John Bolton said Thursday.
"We'll see when that might be scheduled or how it might work out," Bolton said in an interview with FOX News.
Bolton also said it was premature to make any judgment on the reports of activities at a DPRK rocket launch site.
"We're going to study the situation carefully. As the president said, it would be very, very disappointing if they were taking this direction."
U.S. media reported Tuesday that the DPRK appeared to have started "rapid rebuilding" of a long-range rocket site at Tongchang-ri Launch Facility, citing an imagery analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders declined to comment on the reports of the DPRK rocket launch site, only saying on Wednesday that the United States would continue to have conversations with the DPRK.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang Thursday said at a press conference that no one should expect the Korean Peninsula issue to be resolved in just one day, and the key is to take into account the legitimate concerns of all parties in a balanced way and consolidate mutual trust and gradually gather consensus.
"Both the DPRK and the U.S. leaders have made clear their willingness to continue with their dialogues. We recognize and encourage that. We hope that the two sides could persist in translating such willingness into concrete actions," he added.
Trump and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un held their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam on Feb. 27-28, without reaching an agreement.
Nevertheless, the White House said the two leaders had "very good and constructive meetings" and discussed various ways to "advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts."
Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also expressed Washington's willingness to continue the conversation with Pyongyang.
