Trump and Moon Discuss Maintaining Talks With North: Seoul

Trump and Moon Discuss Maintaining Talks With North: Seoul

Voice of America
07 Dec 2019, 18:35 GMT+10

Trump and Moon Discuss Maintaining Talks With North: Seoul

SEOUL - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump agreed during a phone conversation to maintain dialogue with the nuclear-armed North, Seoul said Saturday, with the two allies noting the situation had become "grave".

Denuclearisation negotiations have been at a standstill since a summit in Hanoi broke up in February and pressure is rising as an end-of-year deadline to offer concessions, set by Pyongyang for Washington, approaches.

The 30-minute talk was the first conversation between the US President and the South Korean leader since they met at the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

"The two leaders shared an assessment that the current situation on the Korean peninsula is grave," said Ko Min-jung, the spokeswoman of the South's presidential office.

"They agreed momentum for dialogue to achieve prompt results from denuclearisation negotiations should be continued," she went on to say, adding that Trump had requested the call.

The discussion came after a week in which exchanges between Trump and North Korea raised the prospect of a return to a war of words, culminating in Pyongyang's threats to resume referring to the US president as a "dotard" and to take military action if the US military moves against it.

The South Korean leader was instrumental in brokering the landmark summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore last year which produced only a vaguely worded pledge about denuclearisation.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Singapore Star.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Nine children from 1 family die as Israel Air force pilots hit 100 targets in Gaza

Israeli pilots kill 9 kids while their mother works at Gazan hospital

GAZA - The home of a doctor working in the emergency room at the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza was struck by Israel Air...

Universal unveils Epic Universe to challenge Disney’s dominance

Universal's new Epic Universe park challenges Disney in Florida

ORLANDO, Florida: For years, Universal Orlando played second fiddle to Disney's sprawling empire in Central Florida. Now, with the...

Biden-era fuel rules face pushback over EV inclusion

US to declare Biden fuel economy rules exceeded legal authority

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to say that fuel economy rules created under President Joe Biden went...

US Justice Department probes Cuomo over alleged COVID misstatements

US Justice Department investigating former New York governor Cuomo

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York and a top candidate for...

Trump re-ignites trade war, targets Europe in extraordinary attack

Trump lashes European Union, imposes 50% tariffs

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump re-ignited his trade war on Friday with an extraordinary attack on the European Union...

Judge allows Delta to proceed with CrowdStrike lawsuit

Court: Delta can sue after outage canceled 7,000 flights

ATLANTA, Georgia: A judge in Georgia has ruled that Delta Air Lines can continue most of its lawsuit against the cybersecurity company...

Business

Section

Aussie firms upbeat on China outlook despite trade tensions

Australian exporters keen on doing business in China despite trade war

SYDNEY, Australia: Australian businesses are feeling optimistic about their prospects in China despite escalating global trade tensions,...

Russia’s top oil company takes over largest rare earth deposit

Rosneft takes control of Russia's largest rare earth deposit

MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's top oil company, Rosneft, has taken over control of the country's largest rare earth metals deposit, Tomtor,...

Volvo Cars steps up partnership with Google to make Android software

Google, Volvo Cars deepen partnership to develop Android software

GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Volvo Cars is stepping up its collaboration with Google to become the lead development partner for Android automotive...

U.S. stocks in retreat after Trump wages war on European Union

Turmoil on financial markets, Dow Jones drops 256 points

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets fell Friday as President Donald Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the European Union,...

Levi’s to sell Dockers brand for $311 Million, focus on care labels

Levi Strauss to sell Dockers to Authentic Brands for $311 million

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Levi Strauss is parting ways with Dockers. The denim giant announced this week that it will sell the Dockers...

Canada’s inflation eases, but core prices rise

Mixed inflation signals complicate Bank of Canada's outlook

OTTAWA, Canada: Canada's inflation picture became more complicated in April, with headline inflation easing but core measures ticking...

Movie Review

Mission: Impossible [Blu-Ray]