North Korea said Friday it is willing to talk to the United States "at any time" after President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled a summit, a decision that once more casts a pall of uncertainty over the the turbulent Korean peninsula.
Trump blamed "open hostility" from the North Korean regime for his decision to call off the planned talks with Kim Jong Un, and warned Pyongyang against committing any "foolish or reckless acts."
In a personal letter to Kim, Trump announced Thursday he would not go ahead with the June 12 summit in Singapore, following what the White House called a "trail of broken promises" by the North.
Pyongyang’s immediate reaction to the sudden U-turn was conciliatory.
First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan called Trump’s decision "unexpected" and "regrettable". But he left the door open, saying officials were willing "to sit face-to-face at any time."
Just before Trump announced the cancellation of the talks, North Korea declared it had "completely" dismantled its nuclear test site in the country’s far northeast, in a carefully choreographed goodwill gesture ahead of the summit.
But the chances of success for the unprecedented face-to-face had recently been thrown into doubt as threats were traded by both sides.
Trump’s announcement came a day after Pyongyang hardened its rhetoric, calling comments by Vice President Mike Pence "ignorant and stupid".
"Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," read Trump’s letter to Kim.
But he said talks could still go ahead "at a later date".
