Kim Jong-un promises not to use nuclear weapons against Seoul after high-level talks

US President Donald Trump’s joke about North Korea drew silence after Kim Jong-un’s shock nuclear promise.

DONALD Trump’s joke fell flat when asked about North Korea’s vow to not use nuclear weapons against South Korea.

The secretive state could also impose a ban on further nuclear and missile tests during talks with the US, South Korean media reports.

The stunning about face followed the first meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean officials since 2011.

It led to claims Kim Jong-un would not use conventional weapons against South Korea and had no reason to possesses nuclear weapons if it has a security guarantee.

The leaders also agreed to establish a “hotline” between the countries to reduce military tensions and will meet for another summit in late April at the border village of Panmunjom.

US President Donald Trump said the news was “very positive”.

“I think that their statement and the statements coming out of the South Korea and North Korea has been very positive,” he said this morning.

“That would be a great thing for the world. We will see how it all comes about. I thought that North Korea were terrific. They went into the Olympics and went in with good spirit. They did well. Let’s see if we can carry it over.”

During a later press conference with the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Trump was asked why North Korea had agreed to talks now.

“Me,” he replied.

After an awkward silence, Mr Trump said: “Nobody got that”.

He then said sanctions on North Korea and China’s involvement had played a role, and hoped North Korea was “sincere”.

Earlier he had weighed in on the news on Twitter, saying “the US is ready to go hard in either direction”.

Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2018

We will see what happens! https://t.co/Y1qxoAUfd9

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2018

All smiles. Kim Jong-un with South Korean chief delegator Chung Eui-yong. Picture: KCNA.

North and South Korean leaders come together in their first talks since 2011. Picture: South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images.

The surprising series of apparent concessions came after Kim Jong-un and top officials dined with South Korean leaders face-to-face in their first meeting in seven years.

The North Korean leader was joined by his wife Ri Sol-Ju and sister Kim Yo-jong, for the four hour session designed to advance inter-Korean relations.

South Korean security adviser, Chung Eui-yong told local media after the two-day talks in Pyongyang that North Korea committed to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

“The North side clearly affirmed its commitment to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and said it would have no reason to possess nuclear weapons should the safety of its regime be guaranteed and military threats against North Korea removed,” he said.

He added the North said it would hold “candid” talks with the US on how to reinstate bilateral ties, while agreeing there would be no further tests while talks are in progress.

“In addition, the North promised not to use not only nuclear weapons but also conventional weapons against the South,” he said.

The meeting raised the prospect of talks with the US and said a ban on further testing would take place while underway. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci.

Tom Plant, the director of nuclear policy at UK think tank RUSI, said while it’s “certainly nice to have a headline that isn’t about a new weapon system” he remains sceptical.

“The devil is always in the details on this kind of thing,” he told news.com.au. “There’s an element of ‘what are the conditions and are they realistic and how far would the US and others go?

While he said a “genuine breakthrough would start this way,” there’s not enough evidence yet that is the case as North Korea has a habit of putting “things on ice” in order to buy time.

“Analysts love to be right but on North Korea, I’d love to be proved wrong,” he said. “I find it hard to be optimistic”

“Let’s be hopeful but watchful ... If North Korea is genuinely serious about freezing its programs, for me that means a full freeze. What about engine tests? What about research and development?”

The talks follow North Korean participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics where the two states marched as one under a joint flag into the opening ceremony. North Korean leaders also watched the games and sent the famed “army of beauties” cheer squad to take part.

News of the upcoming summit follows extreme tensions between North Korean and the US after a series of missile and nuclear tests and a war of words between Kim Jong-un and President Trump.