Top North Korean official heads to US for talks

Kim Yong Chol

President Donald Trump confirmed yesterday that a senior North Korean official is en route to New York as part of preparations for a planned summit with leader Kim Jong Un.

"We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!" Trump wrote in a tweet.

Donald Trump. Pics/AFP

General Kim Yong Chol landed at Beijing airport yesterday and will continue on to New York the following day after talks with Chinese officials, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported earlier, quoting diplomatic sources. The trip is part of a flurry of diplomacy as preparations gather pace for the summit between Trump and North Korea's leader, scheduled to take place in Singapore on June 12.