Trump Promises US To Strive To Reconcile South Korea-North Korea

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said his administration would work "very hard" to reach a peace agreement between North Korea and South Korea.

Several consecutive US governments are trying to suppress North Korea's illegal missile and nuclear programs and improve relations on the Korean Peninsula. Although progress is still limited, Trump is optimistic that he can reach a peace agreement in the divided territory.

Responding to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Trump realized the two Koreas were officially still at war after the ceasefire stopped hostilities in 1953, but said: "We'll see what we can do to solve it."

"We will work very hard with Kim Jong-un and with everyone to solve this problem, because it makes sense," Trump said in a brief speech to reporters as he sat down with Lee.

"It's natural that if that works, and I'm sure it's going to happen, maybe a little bit of time, we have to be a little patient, but I'm really sure that's going to happen," he added.

Trump met Kim three times during his first term, including a meeting in 2019 with North Korean leaders in the demilitarized zone between North Korea and South Korea. The meeting marks the first time a US president has set foot in North Korea.

As reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, October 29, the US President said his team was trying to arrange another meeting during their five-day tour in Asia, but they "couldn't find the right time."

Meanwhile, Lee said Trump had "succeeded to bring peace to many parts of the world."

"I hope your reconciling skills can be applied on the Korean Peninsula, so that we can also realize peace in this region," Lee said, expressing his regret for the absence of a meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Lee said South Korea had decided to increase its national defense budget and reaffirmed its call for nuclear-powered submarines armed with "conventional".

"We are not targeting nuclear-powered submarines, but conventional submarines powered by nuclear energy, because our conventional submarines have limited capabilities," he said.

He said South Korea will continue to invest in the US and will continue to support "Your efforts in revitalizing the manufacturing sector and cooperation in the shipping sector."

Shortly before the meeting, Trump was awarded a gold crown replica from the ancient Korean kingdom and was also awarded the highest South Korean award, the Grand Order of Magunghwa, marking the first time a US president has received the award.