North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency published the statement on Tuesday hours before the Korean leaders were expected to meet in Pyongyang for their third summit this year amid a global diplomatic push to resolve the nuclear standoff.

The summit will likely be a crucial indicator of how the larger nuclear negotiations with the United States will proceed. Talks between Washington and Pyongyang have sputtered in recent weeks, raising doubts about Kim’s supposed willingness to relinquish his nuclear arsenal and putting the pressure on Moon to broker progress once again.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that he will push for “irreversible, permanent peace” and for better dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, during “heart-to-heart” talks with Kim. (AP)