S. Korea to discuss with North to hold the cancelled talks

REUTERS :  South Korea intends to continue discussions with North Korea to hold the high-level talks Pyongyang cancelled, the Blue House said on Thursday (May 17). It also said it would work as a coordinator between North Korea and the United States so that the two countries can hold a successful summit in Singapore. The statement comes after Pyongyang on Wednesday (May 16) threatened to pull out of the June 12 summit in Singapore with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying it might not attend if Washington continues to demand it unilaterally abandon its nuclear arsenal. An official from the Blue house also said South Korea is seeking to actively mediate between the United States and North Korea as the two sides appear to have had "some kind of difference in stances" while preparing for the upcoming summit. President Donald Trump will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a summit at the White House on May 22, and the two are expected to discuss the upcoming summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea called off talks with South Korea scheduled for Wednesday, blaming U.S.-South Korean military exercises.