Kim Jong-un's right-hand man meets Mike Pompeo in US ahead of Trump's planned nuclear summit

Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man has met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the planned historic talks between the North Korean leader and Donald Trump.

Gen Kim Yong-chol was pictured dining with Mr Pompeo after flying to the US from China to discuss the June 12 summit, which both sides have made fresh efforts to hold.

The historic meeting, which was previously cancelled by the US president just days ago, would be the first ever between sitting US and North Korean leaders.

It was not yet known whether the two have made progress towards narrowing long-standing differences between Washington and Pyongyang that could end decades of hostile relations.

Earlier on Wednesday the White House left open the possibility of a Trump-Kim summit, despite Mr Trump's earlier cancellation of the meeting.

The dinner took place inside an apartment in New York, south of the United Nations, US officials told reporters Mr Pompeo and Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, "are trying to get to know each other".

The official added that before any summit between the two leaders can occur, Pyongyang is "going to have to make clear what they are willing to do" amid demands from Washington that North Korea permanently end its nuclear weapons program.

The dinner follows their two initial meetings this year in North Korea.

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