South Korean Envoy To Visit North Korea For Nuclear Talks

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In, May 26, 2018 before their summit at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea (Image: PA Images)

South Korea's President Moon Jae In is to send an envoy to North Korea for talks on the nuclear stand-off - and to set up a summit planned for next month.

The visit on Wednesday comes amid growing concerns over the slow pace of getting North Korea to end its nuclear programme following Donald Trump's Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in June.

Mr Trump declared the summit a success and suggested the nuclear issue would be solved.

But there has since been widespread doubt over Mr Kim's willingness to relinquish his nuclear weapons.

Many analysts believe that Mr Kim sees them as crucial for staying in power.

Mr Moon and Mr Kim are set to meet next month in Pyongyang for their third summit.

But details are still unclear and the South Korean president's office said it had not been determined who the envoy travelling to Pyongyang next week will be.

The announcement comes days after Mr Trump shelved a trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang, citing a lack of progress on denuclearisation, but remaining open to future talks.

Mr Trump has been heaping blame on China, North Korea's traditional ally and main trading partner.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump accused Beijing of pressuring the North because of current tensions in US-China trade relations, and also of providing North Korea money, fuel, fertiliser and other commodities in violation of international sanctions.

China cooperated with the US last year in adopting tough international sanctions against North Korea and maintains it is still enforcing the restrictions adopted by the UN Security Council.