President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States and North Korea have agreed to a date and location for the anticipated historic meeting between the leaders of the two countries.
"We're having very substantive talks with North Korea," Trump said before he departed for Andrews Air Force Base. "I think you're going to be seeing very, very good things. And also the trip is being scheduled. We now have a date. And we have a location. We'll be announcing it soon."
After months of increasing tensions between the two countries, then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a surprise visit to North Korea and met with leader Kim Jong Un. Following a historic April meeting between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Trump was set to meet with Kim in the coming weeks over what the U.S. hopes will be a start to the regime abandoning its rogue nuclear weapons program.
The North Korean regime has threatened to withdraw and failed to comply with agreements, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), at multiple points in history. Most recently, North Korea announced it had withdrawn from the NPT in January 2003 and once again began operating its nuclear facilities. The announcement led to the six-party talks–beginning in August of 2003–with China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Those talks ultimately broke down in 2009.
Trump also commented on recent reports that North Korea is prepared to release three American prisoners.
"And a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages," Trump said. "And I think you're going to see very good things."