With just two more weeks to the planned date for a summit between US President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, United States Department of State spokesperson Heather Ann Nauert made sure to express gratitude to the very hosts of the historic meeting.
During a state department press briefing on Tuesday, she extended her thanks to the Singapore government and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for all the “gracious” backing provided thus far.
“I just want to highlight the great work that the Government of Singapore has done and how much assistance that they have provided to the United States, especially Prime Minister Lee in particular, who has been gracious with his time, gracious with all their efforts in helping the United States to plan for this summit,” stated Nauert, a former newscaster with ABC News and Fox News.
“They’re obviously our strategic partner, and they have just been incredibly generous in agreeing to host an upcoming meeting, so I just wanted to highlight that and thank the Government of Singapore for that.”
During yesterday’s @StateDept Press Briefing, @statedeptspox Heather Nauert thanked the Government of Singapore for their generous assistance in planning for the summit. @MFAsg @SingaporeEmbDC @USAsiaPacific @eAsiaMediaHub pic.twitter.com/cFqmYIb2gW
— US Embassy Singapore (@RedWhiteBlueDot) May 30, 2018
Similarly, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders made a thankful shout-out to Singapore as well, confirming that the US delegation has met with their North Korean counterparts here, and will do so again. “…the President is very appreciative of Prime Minister Lee for all of their efforts,” she mentioned in a press briefing.
.@WhiteHouse @PressSec Sarah Sanders thanks Singapore and PM @leehsienloong for generously agreeing to host the summit in her May 30 press briefing. @MFAsg @SingaporeEmbDC @stcom @ChannelNewsAsia pic.twitter.com/Ayfs3e7IlG
— US Embassy Singapore (@RedWhiteBlueDot) May 31, 2018
Initially scheduled for June 12, the date of the summit remains yet to be set in stone — especially after Trump called off the meeting before reinstating it again within 24 hours.
The on-again-off-again summit might very well go ahead as planned, considering that a White House pre-advance team has arrived in Singapore in order to prepare should the summit take place. An AFP photographer already spotted Kim Chang Son — Kim Jong Un’s de facto chief of staff — here on Tuesday for preparatory discussions.
South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo daily cited anonymous diplomatic sources as saying that the Istana is one of the places being considered as the US-North Korea summit venue. The Shangri-La Hotel — a venue that has played host to dozens of major international dialogues and summits in the past — is another location under consideration.
Steak dinner
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official met in New York on Wednesday over a steak dinner to try to salvage next month’s summit between the North Korean and US leaders, reported AFP.
Kim Yong Chol, considered the right-hand man of leader Kim Jong Un, was the most senior North Korean official to visit the United States in 18 years. Pyongyang’s envoy joined Pompeo at the apartment of a US diplomat on Manhattan’s East side for the evening meal that lasted about an hour and a half.
The State Department released photos of a smiling Pompeo shaking hands with Kim Yong Chol, pointing out New York landmarks to him by a window and toasting his guests.
The menu featured burrata salad, filet mignon with corn puree, blanched celeriac and pan-wilted spinach. There was homemade vanilla ice cream for dessert.
When asked about the working dinner, Pompeo told reporters afterwards: “It was great”.
“Good working dinner with Kim Yong Chol in New York tonight,” he later tweeted. “Steak, corn, and cheese on the menu.”
Good working dinner with Kim Yong Chol in New York tonight. Steak, corn, and cheese on the menu. pic.twitter.com/1pu4K3oym7
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 31, 2018
With text by AFP
