Top Aide to Kim Jong-un Is Bound for U.S., Trump Says

Kim Yong-chol has been at the side of the North Korean leader during a recent whirl of diplomacy and is expected to meet soon with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.CreditAhn Young-Joon/Associated Press

North Korea’s top nuclear weapons negotiator was headed for New York on Tuesday and plans to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as officials race to settle on an agenda for a June 12 summit meeting between the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and President Trump in Singapore.

Mr. Trump said on Twitter that Kim Yong-chol, one of the most trusted aides to the North’s leader and a former intelligence chief, was “heading now to New York.” In a reference to the moves made since he canceled the off-again-on-again summit meeting, the president added, “Solid response to my letter, thank you!”

Mr. Kim will meet with Mr. Pompeo this week, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said on Tuesday.

New York Times