WASHINGTON: There is a great deal of work ahead to implement the denuclearisation deal with North Korea but peace is always worth that effort, US President Donald Trump has said, observing that the world has seen more than enough conflict.
Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a joint statement after their meeting in Singapore on June 12 that reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
"Our world has seen more than enough conflict. If there's a chance at peace, if there's a chance to end the horrible threat of nuclear conflict, then we must pursue it at all costs.
The people of America, the people of the Koreas, the people of world deserve a future of security and of peace," Trump said in a video message yesterday.
In the coming days, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be working directly with North Korea to implement the denuclearization deal, he said, adding that in the meantime, sanctions will remain in place.
"We know that there's a great deal of work ahead, but peace is always worth that effort. We have been working very hard. I made the trip. It was worth every second. It was an incredible event. The people of Asia feel safe and right now, the people from all over the world feel much safer than the days before I was president," Trump said.
In his nearly three-minute video message, Trump talked about his recent summit meeting with Kim.
"This summit marked a new beginning for relations between the United States and North Korea, and it opened the path to a future for all Koreans-- North and south," Trump said.
The summit also made a clean break from the failed approaches of past US administrations, he said.
"Our conversation was open, honest, direct, and very, very productive.
We produce something that is beautiful," he said.
This is the beginning of the process toward the denuclearization of North Korea.
"I sometimes say the Denuking of North Korea, and those are beautiful words," Trump said.
"During our conversation, I emphasized the tremendous new prosperity, security, and opportunity that awaits North Korea when they denuclearise.
As I said in Singapore, Chairman Kim has the chance to seize an incredible future for his people," he said.
"Anyone can make war, but only the most courageous can make peace," the US president said.