U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place as agreed,... although it may happen later than originally anticipated.
He also spoke optimistically about the chance for the two sides to make a fresh start after years of going toe-to-toe.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
President Trump says he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month, or in early June,... in order to "hopefully" reach a deal on denuclearizing the regime.
Trump made the remarks at a cabinet meeting on Monday,... expressing optimism over the talks,.. and what the summit could mean for the future.

" North Korea by the way as you've probably seen, we've been in touch with North Korea, we will be meeting with them sometime in May or early June. And I think there will be great respect paid by both parties and hopefully we'll be able to make a deal on the denuking of North Korea. They've said so, we've said so, hopefully it'll be a relationship that's much different than it's been for many many years."

This comes after the White House had previously said President Trump would meet with Kim Jong-un before the end of May.
Trump said direct talks should've happened years ago,... but stressed that he was looking forward to the summit.

"This should have been done by other presidents and they decided they didn't do it. They couldn't have done it, but it would have been a lot easier if it were done five years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, a lot earlier than now. But we have a meeting that is being set up with North Korea, so that will be very exciting I think for the world."

Over the weekend,... the White House confirmed North Korea had told the U.S. that it was willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,... offering a clearer picture of the agenda for the talks.
However observers remain cautious despite the easing tensions,... with John Bolton officially starting his position as Trump's National Security Advisor on Monday, replacing H.R. McMaster.
Bolton had previously outlined his advocacy of an attack on North Korea.
Many hope his "case for striking North Korea first" will not negatively affect the upcoming summit.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.