Trump says North Korea's Kim has been 'very honorable'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been "very honorable" and "very open" ahead of talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

The comments come as Trump prepares to meet Kim in an historic sit-down slated for either May or June. If it materializes, the meeting will be the first time a sitting U.S. president has met with a North Korean leader.

"We'll see where that all goes. Maybe it will be wonderful. And maybe it won't," Trump said at the White House. "And if it's not going to be fair and reasonable and good unlike past administrations I will leave the table."

When asked by reporters what he means by denuclearization, Trump was succinct: "It means they get rid of their nukes. Very simple."

Trump's tone is a far cry from January when he tweeted: "North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

On Tuesday it was reported that Kim is preparing to do what many analysts feared was impossible: open North Korea to international inspectors to verify the reclusive state's denuclearization.

The North's leader has apparently sent a message to the U.S. expressing his willingness to open access to the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to South Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo.

The media outlet cited Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS) as having observed that Kim responded positively to CIA Director and Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo, who has been working on North Korea's total abandonment of nukes during direct talks.

Kim's regime announced last weekend an end to nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests but stopped short of a full denuclearization commitment.

A key development is expected Friday when the Koreas hold the first inter-Korean summit in over a decade.