Second summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump 'may be imminent'

Mr Moon told reporters he believed that Kim’s Beijing visit had been a “sign” that a second face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump may be imminent.

Kim consulted with Mr Xi before and after the Singapore summit. “China has continued to play a positive role in the process of inter-Korean dialogue, as well as US-North Korea talks," said Mr Moon, according to Yonhap. 

“The second North Korea-United States summit - to take place soon - and a reciprocal visit to Seoul by Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea will be… turning points that will firmly solidify peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said Mr Moon in his address to the nation. 

“The path toward peace on the Korean Peninsula still continues to expand even at this moment, and it will speed up even more this year.”

President Moon has been a driving force behind the unexpected diplomatic détente that took hold on the Korean peninsula last January and is keen to see the US and North Korea overcome their differences. 

Nuclear disarmament talks between the two sides have hit an impasse in recent months. The Singapore summit deal agreed to “work toward the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula” but Pyongyang and Washington have since failed to compromise on how to do so. 

Mr Moon acknowledged that the agreement was “somewhat vague” and that there was “scepticism” that Kim’s understanding of denuclearisation was different to that expected by the US. 

“But Kim has assured many foreign leaders, including myself, Trump, Xi Jinping and [Vladimir] Putin, that his concept is no different in any way from what the international community demands,” said Mr Moon.

A second summit should produce an agreement that was “more clear on actions by each side”, he argued.

He also indicated that he would push for sanctions exemptions to restart dormant economic cooperation projects with North Korea, a move that is unlikely to be welcomed in Washington, where the Trump administration is unwilling to grant Pyongyang economic respite before denuclearisation. 

Kim’s own New Year’s address had signalled he was willing to resume South Korean tours to the picturesque Diamond Mountain resort and to reopen the jointly run Kaesong factory complex in the border region that was closed in protest over the North’s nuclear weapons programme. 

Mr Moon said the South welcomed North Korea’s intentions, adding: “My administration will cooperate with the international community, including the United States, to resolve the remaining issues such as international sanctions as soon as possible.”

In comments perhaps directed more at a domestic audience, Mr Moon stressed that “peace can drive economic growth.”

“The connection of railroads and roads between the two Koreas will help find new breakthroughs for our economy,” he said. 

After a dive in his approval ratings as the economy slows and unemployment rises, Mr Moon focussed much of his speech on addressing inequalities in society, arguing that national wealth had become concentrated “in the hands of a small number of the upper class and conglomerates.”

He also proposed a “bolder investments” in children, including an increase in benefits and more nationally funded kindergartens, to help reverse the country’s alarmingly low birthrates.