(4th LD) Trump says he likes idea of meeting Kim on inter-Korean border

(ATTN: UPDATES with South Korean presidential office's response in last 3 paras)

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he likes the idea of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean border.

There could be a "great celebration" on the site if the meeting goes well, he said, referring to the summit being planned for late May or early June.

"We're looking at various countries, including Singapore, and we are also talking about the possibility of the DMZ, Peace House, Freedom House, and there's something that I thought was intriguing," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, adding he had talked about it with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

"There's something that I like about it because you're there," Trump said. "You're actually there, where, if things work out, there's a great celebration to be had on the site not, in a third party country."

The U.S. president floated the idea in a tweet early in the day, saying, "Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!"

The Peace House was the location of Moon's meeting with Kim Friday. The Freedom House is a nearby building that serves as a liaison office between the Koreas. Both houses are on the southern side of the border in the truce village of Panmunjom.

DMZ refers to the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

"The United States has never been closer to potentially having something happen with respect to the Korean Peninsula that can get rid of the nuclear weapons, can create so many good things, so many positive things and peace and safety for the world," Trump said.

He also said he thinks the summit is "going to happen" as both sides want it and he thinks it's going to be a success. So far, Kim has been "very open" and "very straightforward," pledged to close the country's only known nuclear test site, and lived up to his promise to suspend nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

"But we'll see. I will say this: If it's not a success ... I will respectfully leave. It's very simple," Trump said.

Trump is expected to meet with Kim within weeks, and last week he said the location had been narrowed to two prospective sites.

Among the possible venues cited in the media are Switzerland, Singapore, Mongolia, Sweden and the U.S. territory of Guam. South Korea has largely been dismissed because of apparent concerns it could highlight Seoul's role in enabling the historic meeting and take the spotlight away from Trump.

The Trump administration has said its goal in the upcoming negotiations is the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea.

Moon and Kim agreed in their summit to pursue complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and work toward a peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War.

Many expect the Trump-Kim meeting to focus on the details of how denuclearization will be achieved, and what concessions Pyongyang will seek in return.

Trump is also expected to decide within days whether to pull the U.S. out of a nuclear accord with Iran. If he does, some say North Korea will question the U.S.' credibility in nuclear talks.

"I think it sends the right message," Trump said when asked if he is worried a withdrawal could send the wrong message to North Korea.

In Seoul, South Korea's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, welcomed the news that Trump is considering the DMZ.

"(We) think Panmunjom is quite meaningful as a place to erode the divide and erect a new milestone for peace," a presidential official told reporters, adding it would be the "most symbolic" location.

Asked if Moon proposed the site during his phone conversation with Trump on the weekend, the official said Panmunjom was "naturally mentioned" as they talked about an appropriate location.

hague@yna.co.kr
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