US President Donald Trump (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Photo:CNN)

Kim’s remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump canceled his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un scheduled for June 12 in Singapore.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on Trump and Kim to convene direct talks while Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is sorry for Trump’s decision, but hopes the summit will still happen. French President Emmanuel Macron said he hopes the US and North Korea will continue joint efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. 

The Japanese government said it understands the US’s decision and hopes to continue cooperation with Washington.

A British Prime Minister spokesperson said Thursday that the UK is disappointed by President Trump’s decision. UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres said he is deeply concerned by the cancellation and urged the two countries to continue dialogues toward “a peaceful and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in a phone call on Thursday that the US is still committed to talking with North Korea despite Mr. Trump’s decision to pull out of the meeting with President Kim.  Ms. Kang stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum of the inter-Korea meeting and resuming negotiations between the US and North Korea.