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Trump Wants One-on-One Talks With Kim at Summit, Report Says

Trump Wants One-on-One Talks With Kim at Summit, Report Says

(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump wants to go it alone with Kim Jong Un, according to a South Korean newspaper report.

The U.S. president hopes to speak with the North Korean leader at their upcoming summit with only interpreters present, the Chosun Ilbo reported Thursday, citing multiple unidentified South Korean diplomatic sources.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump Wants One-on-One Talks With Kim at Summit, Report Says

Trump believes groundbreaking results can be attained only if the number of accompanying officials is minimized, one of the people was quoted as saying by the newspaper. This reflects Trump’s personality as he wants all the spotlight focused on him, the report added.

CIA director Mike Pompeo delivered Trump’s intention during his recent clandestine meeting with Kim in Pyongyang, the newspaper said. It’s unknown how Kim reacted to the suggestion.

Chosun also reported, without citing anyone, that Trump aims to draw up a specific timetable -- most likely between six months and a year -- for North Korea’s denuclearization at the summit.

Trump said Wednesday at a press conference with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he’ll abandon plans for -- or even walk out of -- a summit with Kim if he doesn’t think it will be "fruitful."

--With assistance from Toluse Olorunnipa

To contact the reporter on this story: Kanga Kong in Seoul at kkong50@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at bscott66@bloomberg.net, Andy Sharp, Colin Keatinge

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.