President Donald Trump noted Thursday that North Korea's attitude regarding the upcoming peace summit changed after it met with China for the second time in recent weeks, adding the historic meeting between himself and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is still on.
"I think things changed a little bit when they met with [Chinese President Xi Jinping]," Trump said. "They met the second time, as you know, Kim Jong Un had a second meeting with China, which was a little bit of a surprise meeting."
Trump and Kim and scheduled to meet June 12 in Singapore to discuss denuclearizing the reclusive nation. In recent days, however, the North Koreans have changed their tune by canceling a meeting with the South Koreans and saying they reserve the right to pull out of the Trump-Kim negotiations.
Trump said the North Koreans have been talking with his administration about the upcoming peace summit, discussions that include logistical details.
"We are continuing to negotiate in terms of location," Trump said. "Location of where to meet, how to meet, rooms, everything else, and negotiating like nothing happened. But if you read the newspapers, maybe it won't happen. I can't tell you yet. I will tell you very shortly."
Earlier, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders noted the peace summit is still slated to happen despite news reports and public statements made by the North Koreans.
"If the North Koreans want to meet, then we'll be there," Sanders said.
"The North Koreans made concessions, they have already, three Americans are home now that weren't. The president has had some success in the process. And certainly we've given up nothing. We are going to continue moving forward. And we're moving into this with our eyes wide open. We're not naive in the process."
It has been reported North Korea is upset with ongoing military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, and they demanded the exercises be stopped. Sanders said they will continue.
"Those are ongoing exercises that are routine and [North Korea is] aware of, they're annual," she said. "At this point, we have no intention of changing that."
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