TheCable

President Donald Trump has cancelled the summit with Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, citing the “tremendous anger and open hostility” in a recent statement from North Korea.

The summit was supposed to hold in Singapore on June 12.

Trump’s decision happened on a day North Korea dismantled its nuclear bomb testing site in the presence of some journalists.

In a letter to Un on Thursday, Trump said he felt it was “inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting”.

He said the North Koreans talk about their nuclear capabilities, “but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”

“I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have the long-planned meeting,” Trump said.

“You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.

“The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth. This missed opportunity is a truly sad moment in history.”

Trump ended his letter by saying Mr Kim should call him if he changed his mind.

Trump was apparently responding to statements from North Korea attacking his administration and casting doubt over the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, North Korean official Choe Son-hui dismissed remarks by US Vice-President Mike Pence – who had said North Korea “may end like Libya”.

Choe, who has been involved in several diplomatic interactions with the US over the past decade, said the North would not “beg” for dialogue and warned of a “nuclear showdown” if diplomacy failed.

A White House official quoted by Reuters described the comments about Pence as the “last straw”.

References to Libya have angered North Korea. Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan leader, died after giving up his nuclear programme.