NHK, 9 April 2018— North Korea has told the United States that its leader, Kim Jong Un, is prepared to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Wall Street Journal and other US media carried the report on Sunday. NHK confirmed the content with the White House.

The Journal said North Korean and US officials have been in contact about a possible summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim.

It added that North Korean officials have told the US side that Kim is prepared to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

But it said it remains unclear when and how that message was delivered.

CNN reported that US and North Korean intelligence officials “have spoken several times and have even met in a third country, with a focus on nailing down a location” for the summit.

The broadcaster said North Korean officials are pushing to have the meeting in their capital, Pyongyang. But it said it is unclear whether the White House would be willing to hold the talks there.

CNN quoted sources close to the matter as saying the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar has also been raised as a possible location.

The network reported that US officials say the current target date of the summit is in the latter half of May, but could be delayed to June.

A meeting between US Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo, who has been nominated as a Secretary of State, and North Korean officials is also reportedly planned ahead of the summit.