N Korean leader ‘satisfied’ at outcome of talks with US

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - North Korean leader expressed “satisfaction” over outcome of recent negotiations with Washington, local media reported on Thursday.

“Upon receiving the good personal letter sent by [U.S.]President [Donald] Trump, the Supreme Leader expressed great satisfaction,” said Pyongyang’s state-run KCNA news agency.

On Friday, Kim’s deputy Kim Yong Chol led a North Korean delegation to Washington, where he met Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The same day White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a second summit “near the end of February.”

In June 2018, Trump and Kim held a historic first summit, reaching an agreement, which critics have said is overly vague and has failed to produce meaningful progress in ridding North Korea of its nuclear arsenal.

According to KCNA news agency, Kim “spoke highly of President Trump for expressing his unusual determination and will for the settlement of the issue with a great interest in the second N.Korea-U.S. summit.”

“Kim Jong Un said that we will believe in the positive way of thinking of President Trump, wait with patience and in good faith and, together with the U.S., advance step by step toward the goal to be reached by the two countries of the DPRK and the U.S,” the news agency said.