U.S. official says Trump would consider meeting anybody if it serves U.S. interests amid N.K. dialogue prospects

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

By Song Sang-ho and Lim Su-jung

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump would consider meeting anybody if it serves U.S. national interests, the State Department's spokesperson has said, as Trump has expressed his intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.

Tommy Pigott, the spokesperson, made the remarks during a foreign press meeting on Monday, responding to Yonhap News Agency's question about whether the Trump administration believes the summit between the United States and North Korea could take place this year.

"Generally speaking, the president has been very clear that he doesn't view dialogue as a concession. He views dialogue as a necessity," Pigott said. "And if he believes there's a national interest of the United States to meet with somebody, he will meet with them."

This photo, taken on June 30, 2019, shows U.S. President Donald Trump shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom. (Yonhap)

The spokesperson highlighted that Trump is a "deal maker," saying that he is "always guided by national interests."

"So ... if there's an ability for the national interest to be fulfilled through a conversation to have with anybody, he's willing to consider that, which I think is showing his ability to get things done for American people," he said.

He went on to claim that because of Trump's willingness to talk, seek out deals and try to resolve longstanding conflicts, the president has "accomplished more than any other president."

Last month, Trump said that he hopes to meet Kim later this year, adding to speculation that he might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim that led to three bilateral in-person meetings: the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the last at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom.

Some observers said that Trump could explore the possibility of a meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.

sshluck@yna.co.kr (END)

BTS performs at iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas

Singer-actor IU donates 200 mln won on debut anniversary

(URGENT) Pentathlete Seong Seung-min wins S. Korea's 1st gold at Asian Games

Girl group Fin.K.L to resume full-group activities after 21 years

(LEAD) Leaders of S. Korea, Tajikistan agree to forge comprehensive partnership

(2nd LD) Land mine explodes at DMZ during military operation over suspected N. Korean minefield: JCS

S. Korea, U.S., Japan hold consultations over N. Korea's latest missile launches

N. Korean auxiliary boat sinks off S. Korea's east coast

(LEAD) N. Korea says tested new weapon system earlier this week

(4th LD) Top S. Korean, U.S., Japanese diplomats reaffirm N.K. denuclearization goal, urge dialogue

(LEAD) S. Korea picks Texas power plant as 1st U.S. investment project

N. Korea tests new weapon system

S. Korea-Malaysia badminton match at Asian Games

U.S. official says Trump would consider meeting anybody if it serves U.S. interests amid N.K. dialogue prospects

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

宋尚浩、林秀晶

华盛顿/纽约，9月22日（韩联社）——美国国务院发言人表示，如果符合美国国家利益，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普会考虑与任何人会面。此前，特朗普已表示有意在今年晚些时候与朝鲜领导人金正恩会面。

发言人汤米·皮戈特周一在一次外国记者会上发表了上述言论，回应了韩联社关于特朗普政府是否认为美朝峰会今年能够举行的问题。

“总的来说，总统已经非常明确地表示，他不把对话视为一种让步，而是视为一种必要，”皮戈特说。“如果他认为与某人会面符合美国的国家利益，他就会与他们会面。”

这张照片拍摄于2019年6月30日，照片显示美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在朝韩边境板门店会晤期间与朝鲜领导人金正恩握手。（韩联社）

发言人强调，特朗普是一位“交易高手”，并表示他“始终以国家利益为指导”。

“所以……如果通过与任何人对话就能实现国家利益，他愿意考虑这样做，我认为这表明他有能力为美国人民做事，”他说。

他接着声称，由于特朗普愿意对话、寻求交易并努力解决长期存在的冲突，这位总统“比任何其他总统都取得了更大的成就”。

上个月，特朗普表示希望今年晚些时候与金正恩会面，这加剧了人们的猜测，即他可能会寻求重燃与金正恩的私人外交，此前两人曾举行过三次双边面对面会晤：第一次是 2018 年 6 月在新加坡，第二次是 2019 年 2 月在河内，最后一次是在朝韩边境的板门店。

一些观察人士表示，特朗普可能会在下次亚洲之行期间探讨与金正恩会晤的可能性，他很可能是在11月前往中国深圳参加亚太经合组织峰会。

sshluck@yna.co.kr（完）

BTS在拉斯维加斯iHeartRadio音乐节上表演

歌手兼演员IU在出道周年纪念日捐赠2亿韩元

（紧急）现代五项运动员成承珉为韩国赢得亚运会首枚金牌

女子组合 Fin.KL 时隔 21 年重返舞台，恢复完整团体活动。

（导语）韩国和塔吉克斯坦领导人同意建立全面伙伴关系

（第二次）在对疑似朝鲜雷区进行军事行动期间，非军事区发生地雷爆炸：联合参谋本部

韩国、美国、日本就朝鲜最新导弹试射举行磋商

朝鲜辅助船在韩国东海岸附近沉没

（导语）朝鲜称本周早些时候测试了新型武器系统

（第四项议程）韩美日三国高级外交官重申朝鲜半岛无核化目标，敦促各方展开对话

（导语）韩国选择德克萨斯州发电厂作为其首个美国投资项目

朝鲜测试新型武器系统

亚运会韩国对阵马来西亚的羽毛球比赛

美国官员称，鉴于朝韩对话前景，如果符合美国利益，特朗普会考虑与任何人会面。