We start with news that a second North Korea-U.S. summit is as good as on.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man is reportedly heading to the United States on Thursday.
Kim Yong-chol will likely meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the following day... to work out the details of another meeting between their respective bosses.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Pyeongyang's top nuclear negotiator is making his way to the United States this week.
According to CNN, Kim Yong-chol, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, is to visit Washington on Thursday.
He's to stay overnight, and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday.
It isn't clear whether he will meet President Trump, but that is expected by the North Korean side according to CNN.
The visit by the North's key negotiator is most likely to settle the details of the second North Korea-U.S. summit.
There have been signs that the summit is drawing near.
The North Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the break of the new year to coordinate strategies on denuclearization talks.
And the leaders of Pyeongyang and Washington exchanged letters as well.
Now comes the North's top official heading to Washington for high-level talks with Mike Pompeo -- one of the very final stages in organizing the summit.
In the case of the first Pyeongyang-Washington summit last year, Kim Yong-chol flew to New York for talks with Pompeo... two weeks before the summit.
The White House has not made any confirmation on Kim Yong-chol's visit to Washington.
But it's widely seen that North Korea and the U.S. are well into discussing where and when to hold their next summit.
There have been reports that President Trump suggested holding the meeting in Vietnam in mid-February.
And the key agenda for Kim and Pompeo this week will be to find a middle ground between each of their demands and go a step closer to reaching a deal involving tangible denuclearization steps and corresponding measures.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
