"I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," Trump said, referring to a meeting with Kim Jong-un slated for June 12. "Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place," read Trump's letter to Kim Jong-un, released by the White House.
The US president has blamed the cancellation on North Korea's "tremendous anger and open hostility" expressed in Kim's latest statement.
Sadly, I was forced to cancel the Summit Meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong Un. pic.twitter.com/rLwXxBxFKx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018
READ MORE: N Korean FM: Trump-Kim Summit Depends on 'US Behavior'
In the letter, Trump also told Kim "do not hesitate to call me or write" if Pyongyang changes its mind regarding the planned summit.
Later in the day, the US president stated that in the wake of summit's cancellation, the country's military was ready to counter any threat from North Korea.
Doubts about whether the meeting between Trump and Kim would take place emerged after Pyongyang decided to cancel ministerial level talks with Seoul over US-South Korea military drills. Despite that, Washington continued to prepare for the summit, pledging to do its utmost to ensure that the meeting would be successful.
READ MORE: Dismantaling of N Korea's Punggye-Ri Nuclear Test Site Completed
However, Trump, when saying that it was not clear whether the planned summit between him and Kim would still take place, firmly insisted on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Pyongyang has continuously stressed that it is not interested in unilateral demands from the US on denuclearization and will negotiate with Trump only if he aims to mend relations between the two countries.
