North Korean leader vows he is committed to denuclearization: China

A Chinese diplomat said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told him he is dedicated to dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, Reuters reported Wednesday.

“Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearisation of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side,” said the Chinese foreign ministry, according to the news outlet.

The United States previously tried to pressure China into taking a more active role in restraining North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

The remark comes as China’s State Councilor Wang Yi makes a trip to North Korea.

“China is willing to strengthen communication with North Korea and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue,” said Wang, according to Reuters.

Wang’s trip follows the historic meeting last week between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim, who crossed into South Korea for the first time.

During that meeting, Kim reportedly said his country will give up its nuclear weapons should the United States vow not to invade North Korea.

President Trump is preparing for his own summit with Kim, for which the White House has yet to provide details on a time or place. But the president earlier this week floated Singapore and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea as possible locations. 

“There’s something that I like about it because you are there. You’re actually there, where if things work out, there’s a great celebration to be had on the site, not in a third-party country,” Trump said Monday of holding the meeting at the DMZ.