President Donald Trump is planning to hold a second summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un sometime in late February, the White House said Friday.
Trump has worked to denuclearize the hermit nation throughout much of his presidency.
But what started as a contentious relationship gave way to more open dialogue and even a summit on June 12 in Singapore.
The White House announced the second summit following a meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the president and North Korean envoy Kim Yong Chol.
“President Donald J. Trump met with Kim Yong Chol for an hour-and-a-half, to discuss denuclearization and a second summit, which will take place near the end of February,” the White House said in a readout of Trump’s meeting with the North Korean representative, which was obtained by CNBC.
“The president looks forward to meeting with Chairman Kim at a place to be announced at a later date.”
Related: Here Are the Experts’ Must-Dos for Denuclearizing Korea
The Singapore Summit marked an important moment in international relations. The two leaders signed an agreement to work together toward peace and denuclearization.
North Korea also agreed to return the remains of American military personnel killed in that country during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
President @realDonaldTrump looks forward to a second summit with Chairman Kim, which will take place near the end of February. Location will be announced at a later date.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 18, 2019
North Korea’s seeming cooperation with the negotiations process hasn’t quelled concerns completely. The country has a reputation of agreeing to treaties and then not following through — going back to the six-party talks. The House Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee talked to a panel of experts after the first summit, who expressed concern over the lack of substance.
“President Trump deserves great credit for getting us to this point,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement provided to LifeZette. “We have a long way to go, and I’m hopeful that the engagement started by President Trump can finally end the North Korean problem in a win-win fashion. I appreciate the Trump administration’s hard work. I hope the summit leads to a lasting and meaningful peace for the Korean peninsula and the world.”
North Korea is still pushing to see what it can get away with this time around. Intelligence assessments said that the regime had increased production of fuel for nuclear weapons at multiple secret sites for months back in June, as NBC News reported.
Related: Trump Withdraws from North Korea Summit
Still, there’s been progress.
Trump has rolled out heavy sanctions to bring the regime to the table and end the nuclear program. The strategy is to achieve denuclearization by demonstrating U.S. firmness and resolve — in contrast with efforts by previous administrations.
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