U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed yesterday morning that CIA chief Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in a secret visit to Pyongyang last week.

“Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea (the DPRK) last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed,” Trump tweeted.

Trump’s words came one day after reports, citing anonymous officials of the White House, revealed Pempeo’s secret visit as Trump’s envoy in recent weeks. Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. and North Korea have been holding direct talks at “extremely high levels.”

Trump appeared to suggest that he and Kim had been in direct contact when asked about the discussions at his private Mar-a-Lago club, where he was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

But White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump and Kim have not spoken.

Trump also confirmed that North and South Korea are working to negotiate an end to hostilities before next week’s meeting between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (SD-Xinhua)