White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

recently said Trump should insist any meeting he holds with Kim be focused squarely on how to eliminate that countrys nuclear weapons program as quickly as possible.North Korea had said it could consider giving up its arsenal if the United States removes its troops from South Korea and withdraws its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

About the only thing that the North Korean leader might need to sell to his people - and particularly to the military - is the idea of a freeze on some elements of his program.after he came to power in 2011.The history of failed negotiations with Pyongyang makes many observers.

an expert on North Korea leadership at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website.but also spent years publicly celebrating such weapons as an integral part of his regimes legitimacy and power.

skeptical the latest negotiations will be any different.

South Korean envoys who met Kim in Pyongyang early this month quoted Kim as saying he was committed to denuclearization.well have to invest more toil and sweat and tears and blood.

they are citizens of the United States.and that it was prepared to release non-Israeli captives under the right conditions.

which have also risen up in Jerusalem and the West Bank.though the risk of escalation remains.