The statement reads:

I read with interest a news report that President Trump said again on a recent public occasion that the top leaders of the DPRK and the U.S. respect each other and maintain a good relationship.

What I can ascertain is that the close relations between the chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and President Trump are firm and the trust in each other is still maintained.

When I met the chairman of the State Affairs Commission and reported to him the pending problems arising in external affairs including the issue of the relations between the DPRK and the U.S. a few days ago, he said that the relationship between him and President Trump is special.

I sincerely hope that a motive force to overcome all the obstacles between the DPRK and the U.S. and to advance the bilateral relations in the better direction will be provided on the basis of the close relationship.

The problem is that contrary to the political judgment and intention of President Trump, Washington political circles and DPRK policy makers of the U.S. administration are hostile to the DPRK for no reason, preoccupied with the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice.

There is a will, there is a way.

We want to see how wisely the U.S. will pass the end of the year.