Donald Trump: ‘Would be honored’ to meet with North Korea leader

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he’d be open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, under the right circumstances.

“If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him, I would, absolutely, I would be honored to do it,” Trump told Bloomberg News in an interview Monday.

A short time later, the White House said conditions aren’t right for Trump to meet with Kim Jong Un despite Trump’s openness to the idea in the future.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer says he doesn’t see that happening anytime soon.

Tensions with North Korea have escalated dramatically in recent weeks as American and other intelligence agencies have suggested the country was readying for a possible nuclear test.

The Trump administration has said all options, including a military strike, are on the table.

Trump says that “most political people would never say” they’d be willing to meet with Kim. But he adds: “I’m telling you, under the right circumstances, I would meet with him. We have breaking news.”

Asked by reporters about the remarks at the daily briefing, Spicer said Kim would have to show signs of “good faith.” But Spicer isn’t elaborating on exactly what conditions would have to be met.