Donald Trump cancels meeting with Kim Jong-un

DONALD TRUMP has cancelled a planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The US President said the decision was made “based on the tremendous anger and open hostility” shown in a recent statement.

The meeting had been planned for June 12.

A letter from the President to Chairman Kim Jong Un: "It is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting." pic.twitter.com/3dDIp55xu1

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 24, 2018

In a letter, Trump writes: “We greatly appreciate your time, patience, and effort with respect to our recent negotiations and discussions relative to a summit long sought by both parties, which was scheduled to take place on June 12 in Singapore.

“We were informed that the meeting was requested by North Korea, but that to us is totally irrelevant. I was very much looking forward to being there with you.

“Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.

“Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.

“You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”

Last week, a statement from North Korea criticised the US administration’s insistence that the country completely dismantled its nuclear program.

Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said that if the US continued to “drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the DPRK-US summit.”

The statement also attacked Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton.

In today’s letter, Trump adds: “I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters. Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you.

“In the meantime, I want to thank you for the release of the hostages who are now home with their families. That was a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated.

“If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write. The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth. This missed opportunity is a truly sad moment in history.”