Trump remains open to talks with N.K. leader Kim 'without any preconditions': White House

US President Donald Trump remains open to engaging in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "without any preconditions," a White House official said Tuesday, amid speculation that Trump could seek to meet Kim when he visits South Korea to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Report informs via Yonhap.

The official made the remarks in response to Yonhap News Agency's question about the possibility of Trump resuming dialogue with Kim during his much-anticipated visit to South Korea to join the APEC gathering, and about whether Trump is open to talking with Kim without any reference to the nuclear issue.

Earlier this month, Kim expressed openness to resuming talks with the United States if Washington drops its demand for the North's denuclearization. However, the Trump administration has reiterated its commitment to pursuing the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea.

"President Trump in his first term held three historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that stabilized the Korean Peninsula," the official said.

"US policy on North Korea has not changed. President Trump remains open to talking with Kim Jong-un without any preconditions," the official added.

It marks the first time that the Trump administration has publicly stated that it does not have "any preconditions" for the resumption of dialogue between Trump and Kim.

The official's mention of the unchanged US policy appears to refer to Washington's commitment to the North's denuclearization. But, the official did not specifically mention the denuclearization goal in the statement.