U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for June 12 in Singapore due to "open hostility" recently displayed by Pyongyang, the White House said Thursday, dampening hopes for peace on the divided peninsula.
The cancellation of the historic summit is likely to rekindle tensions between Trump and Kim, who have been at odds over how to proceed with denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
According to the White House, Trump sent Kim a letter dated Thursday saying he feels it is "inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting" based on the "tremendous anger and open hostility displayed" in Pyongyang's most recent statement.
"The Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place," the letter said. "The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth."
Trump tweeted, "Sadly, I was forced to cancel the Summit Meeting" with Kim.
Preparations had been under way for a Trump-Kim summit next month for what would have been the first ever between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
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Trump said Tuesday his meeting with Kim may not take place as scheduled amid growing concern Kim may be reluctant to abandon nuclear weapons. He has said the meeting could be postponed unless "certain conditions" are met.
Trump thanked North Korea in the letter for releasing three detained U.S. citizens, calling it "a beautiful gesture."
If Kim changes his "mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write," Trump said.
In the run-up to the Kim-Trump summit, North Korea has made some concessions, such as deciding to dismantle its Punggye-ri nuclear test site and releasing three detained U.S. citizens.
The announcement on the cancellation of the summit comes as North Korea said Thursday it has "completely" dismantled its only known nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in the presence of foreign reporters as promised.
During his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae In's special envoys in Pyongyang in early March, Kim expressed readiness to talk with the United States. A few days later, Trump said he intended to meet Kim in the coming months.
At their landmark summit on April 27 held at a South Korean facility in the truce village of Panmunjeom, Kim and Moon agreed to pursue "complete denuclearization" on the Korean Peninsula and strive to formally end the 1950-1953 Korean War.
