트럼프 "北에서 서신 받았다" vs. 북한 "최근에 보낸 바 없어"... 북미 친서교환 두고 진실공방
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and that their relationship is fine.
But North Korea was quick to react, saying that it has not sent any letter recently.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Shortly after President Trump said he received a "nice note" from North Korea,... Pyeongyang denied the fact.
At a daily coronavirus briefing on Saturday, Trump said (quote)"we're doing just fine with North Korea," insisting his relationship with Kim Jong-un remains good.
However on Sunday, a press chief at the North's foreign ministry issued a statement saying Trump could have referred to the personal letters exchanged in the past... but the regime's leadership did not send any letter to him recently.
He added... the North will look into why the U.S. is feeding an ungrounded story to the media... and warned that relations between Kim and Trump should not be "taken up just for diversion, nor be misused" for selfish purposes.
The denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. have not seen any progress since the summit talks in Hanoi in February last year broke down without a deal, but the leaders have exchanged letters since then.
In January, Trump sent a message for Kim's birthday... and in March, Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong said that Trump reached out, offering help on the coronavirus pandemic.
An official from South Korea's presidential office told reporters Sunday... that Trump did mention the letter while speaking with President Moon Jae-in on the phone on Saturday, but did not elaborate.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
