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Trump calls US-South Korea military exercises 'ridiculous and expensive'

Saturday, 10 August 2019 2:19 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 10 August 2019 2:30 PM ]

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House before departing in Washington, DC on August 9, 2019. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump has called the US-South Korea military exercises "ridiculous and expensive exercises," and said that he will meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un in the "not too distant future".

In a tweet early Saturday, Trump said that Kim had sent him a letter seeking a meeting to start negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang on denuclearization, following the conclusion of the United States's joint military exercises with the North's rival, South Korea.

"It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ridiculous and expensive exercises (between South Korea and the US)," Trump wrote.

In a letter to me sent by Kim Jong Un, he stated, very nicely, that he would like to meet and start negotiations as soon as the joint U.S./South Korea joint exercise are over. It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ridiculous and expensive exercises. It was.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019

North Korea views such drills as rehearsals for invasion. Trump said he is also opposed to such drills due to their heavy costs.

PressTV-US begins joint military drills with South Korea

The United States and South Korea have begun joint military drills on Monday. The exercises came amid tensions with North Korea, which has already criticized the maneuvers.

Trump told reporters on Saturday he had received a "very beautiful letter" from Kim.

Trump then claimed that Kim had apologized to him for North Korea's recent testing of short range missiles. The US president said Kim had told him the "testing would stop when the exercises end."

....also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019

“It was a very positive letter. I think we'll have another meeting. He really wrote a beautiful, three-page - I mean great from top to bottom - a really beautiful letter,” Trump said.

"I look forward to seeing Kim Jong-un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!" he added.

PressTV-North Korea tests missiles, slams US-South Korea drills

North Korea has test-fired two short-range missiles, warning the US and South Korea that their war games imperil engagement and negotiations.

In the meantime, Pyongyang has said that Washington’s hostilities continue even as Trump seems to warm up to Kim.

Washington has so far refused to offer any sanctions relief in return for several unilateral steps already taken by Pyongyang. North Korea has demolished at least one nuclear test site and agreed to allow international inspectors into a missile engine test facility.

Also, Trump and Kim have met three times to discuss the demilitarization of the Korean Peninsula despite the ongoing hostilities.

PressTV-North Korea fires 2 projectiles seawards: South

South Korean military says North Korea has fires two unidentified projectiles seawards.

The first meeting was held in Singapore in June last year, the second in Vietnam in February, and their third brief meeting was at the Korean border at the end of June.

In the final meeting, the two leaders agreed to kick-start working-level talks.

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