N Korea talks positive

• Russia FM urges all sides to avoid temptation to demand everything

• Pyongyang seeking int'l recognition and security guarantees in S'pore talks

President Donald Trump said yesterday he expects a letter from Kim Jong Un confirming plans for their historic nuclear summit, as their top envoys thrashed out details at New York talks.

As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sat down in a New York apartment for talks with the North Korean leader's right-hand man, Kim Yong Chol, back in Washington Trump expressed optimism.

"I look forward to seeing what's in the letter," Trump said, adding that Pompeo's high-stakes diplomatic encounter, which began over dinner on Wednesday, appeared to be going "very well."

"They will probably be coming to Washington DC on Friday to deliver the letter so I look forward to that," he said.

Neither Kim nor Pompeo acknowledged questions from reporters as they met in a senior US diplomat's apartment in the Corinthian, a luxury high-rise condo with a dramatic view over UN headquarters and mid-town Manhattan.

The small delegations were to hold two two-hour negotiating sessions on plans for a June 12 summit in Singapore between Trump and Kim Jong Un to resolve their nations' nuclear stand-off.

Washington has demanded that the North agree to a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" end to Pyongyang's nuclear program, which is close to the point where it could threaten US cities with missile strikes.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting in Pyongyang yesterday. Photo: AFP

Pyongyang is seeking international recognition and security guarantees and it is far from clear whether its own vision of the "denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula can be brought in line with Washington's.

Nevertheless -- after a wobble earlier this month when Trump briefly cancelled the planned summit -- US diplomats are negotiating with the North in New York and a summit planning team is in Singapore.

Kim Yong Chol (L), Vice Chairman of North Korea, during his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (C) in New York on Wednesday. US and N Korea try to settle nuclear weapons disagreements and set the stage for an historic summit between their leaders. Photo: AFP

Kim Yong Chol is the most senior official from Pyongyang to visit the United States in 18 years and Pompeo, in his former role as CIA chief, met secretly earlier this year with Kim Jong Un to launch the summit process.

Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister arrived in Pyongyang yesterday for talks with Kim Jong Un and warned against setting expectations too high, urging all sides to "avoid the temptation to demand everything and now."