(LEAD) (US-NK summit) Tight schedule of U.S.-N. Korea summit indicates imminent progress: Cheong Wa Dae

(ATTN: UPDATES with reports of remarks from a Cheong Wa Dae official hinting at a possible U.S. trip by South Korean president in last 5 paras; ADDS photo)
By Byun Duk-kun

SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- A senior official from South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae offered high expectations for progress at the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, citing what he referred to as the very tight schedule of the two-day summit that will have the leaders face each other on at least five separate occasions.

"Given the schedule announced by the White House and the schedule we have come to be aware of, President Trump and Chairman Kim are expected to hold in-depth discussions in face-to-face meetings," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a daily press briefing.

The White House earlier said the two leaders will hold their first face-to-face encounter on Wednesday when they will have a private or social dinner.

Kim arrived in Hanoi earlier Tuesday for the two-day summit that will end Thursday. Trump was expected to arrive in the Vietnamese capital later in the day.

No schedule for the second day of the Trump-Kim summit has been released, but many believe it will likely follow the pattern of the leaders' first summit held in Singapore in June.

In their Singapore meeting, the leaders held a one-on-one meeting, followed by a joint lunch and expanded meetings involving their aides. They also held a signing ceremony for their joint statement after taking a brief joint stroll.

The Cheong Wa Dae spokesman expressed hope that frequent encounters between the leaders will lead to great progress.

"I do hope there will be great progress as the result of their talks, result of North Korea-U.S. negotiations," he said.

Kim also reiterated the possibility of the U.S. and North Korean leaders declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War at their upcoming summit, one day after he hinted at the possibility for the first time.

"What I said yesterday was that I do not have any details on what form it would be ... but that there is the possibility of the two leaders reaching an agreement and that (I) do hope for such an agreement," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official hinted at the possibility of South Korean President Moon Jae-in visiting the United States in the near future for a meeting with Trump.

"I believe (the president) will have to visit (the U.S.)," the official said while speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.

In a telephone conversation held early last week, the U.S. president offered to call his South Korean counterpart shortly after his summit with the North Korean leader to explain the outcome of the meeting.

Trump had also expressed his wish to meet Moon in the near future, saying he expected to make great progress at the Hanoi meeting and that he would need to share details of such progress with his South Korean counterpart.

Moon and Trump last met in December on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit held in Buenos Aires.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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