Trump Says North Korea Summit Will Go Ahead

President Trump says he hopes a planned summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, will go ahead.

There are unconfirmed reports the Director of the CIA Mike Pompeo met Kim Jong Un over the Easter weekend.

The President did, however, confirm that US officials have made contact with the North's regime.

The highly unusual, secret visit was undertaken over the Easter weekend as the enemy nations prepared for a meeting between President Donald Trump and Mr Kim within the next few months.

Two officials confirmed the trip anonymously to The Associated Press.

The Washington Post, which first reported Mr Pompeo's meeting with Mr Kim, said it took place just over two weeks ago, shortly after the CIA chief was nominated to become secretary of state.

Mr Trump, who is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida, said:

"We have had direct talks at... extremely high levels.”

This unconfirmed meeting marks the highest level of contact between the US and North Korea since 2000.

President Trump also said the leaders "do have my blessing" to discuss an official end to the war.

The White House has said Mr Abe's visit will give the leaders an opportunity to discuss President Trump's own upcoming summit with Mr Kim, which the president is looking to hold in the next two months.

President Trump said the US and Japan are "very unified" on the subject of North Korea, though privately Mr Abe is expected to raise Japan's concerns about the potential summit.

President Trump said five locations are under consideration for the summit but offered no further details.

President Trump took credit for the inter-Korean talks, saying:

"Without us and without me, in particular, I guess you would have to say, they wouldn't be discussing anything."