N. Korea Diplomacy

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North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party officially confirmed the date for leader Kim Jong-un’s upcoming summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kim reportedly refrained from making any provocative, nuclear arms-related comments when laying out the country’s strategy at the upcoming inter-Korean summit and a planned summit with the U.S. president in May or June.

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The North Korean ruling Workers' Party's political bureau is the country's highest decision making organ. During a meeting of the bureau, North Korea officially confirmed for the first time the date and venue of the inter-Korean summit. State media said that leader Kim Jong-un set forth the party's future guideline on international relations and how to respond to them. The meeting is believed to have discussed prospects on the North Korea-US summit. In the meeting, the first of its kind held in 3 years, Pyongyang did not remark on military matters such as nuclear power. A party conference on April 9th that was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kim's late father Kim Jong-il's appointment as party chairman was neither held, which observers believe was a move to avoid any type of nuclear-related statements. Hours before the North Korean media report came out about the meeting, US President Donald Trump said he plans to meet with Kim in May or early June. This shows the North is likely taking moves in sync with Washington. There have also been reports saying that North Korea has conveyed to the US its intent to discuss denuclearization. The two sides may likely have already exchanged opinions on the summit's agenda. Ahead of the summits, attention is drawn to what Kim Jong-un said during the latest meeting as he proposed guidelines on his country's global relations and response measures.