Trump: We are still 'a long way' from North Korea meeting with Kim Jong Un

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump on North Korea: 'Maybe things will work out, maybe they won't' President Donald Trump said in a tweet nuclear negotiations with North Korea could be unsuccessful, and criticized past administrations on how they dealt with the issue. Veuer's Maria Mercedes Galuppo has more.

WASHINGTON — President Trump said Sunday he is still hoping for an unprecedented meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but many details remain and it may not happen.

"We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t - only time will tell," Trump tweeted about efforts to get North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.

While Trump has praised some of Kim's recent moves — including his announcement he will suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests — he and aides are still negotiating details of a prospective summit, from its location to a specific agenda.

Negotiations included a secret trip to North Korea by CIA director — and secretary of State nominee — Mike Pompeo to meet with the reclusive Kim.

More: North Korea to suspend nuclear missile tests and will close nuke test site

More: Trump voices hope for North Korea summit but warns he may 'leave the meeting' if not fruitful

While Kim has reportedly offered to discuss "denuclearization," some analysts said it is uncertain how he defines that term; they also said that his test suspension is meaningless and could be easily reversed.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN's State of the Union that Kim is engaged in a "great public relations effort," and his efforts should be approached with "skepticism" and "caution."

"This is just the front end," Corker said. "We have no idea where this is going to go."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaking on CBS' Face The Nation, said she hopes the U.S. and Kim can reach agreement about eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons, but "the question is whether it lasts or not. And of course the reputation of the North Koreans has been that they don't necessarily keep their agreements."

In another tweet, Trump pushed back on claims that, while he is offering Kim the prestige of a presidential meeting, the North Koreans have given up nothing. "Wow," Trump said, "we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing!"

Trump returned to Washington on Sunday after spending a week at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. When reporters at the West Palm Beach airport asked him about his message to North Korea, Trump gave a thumbs-up and said, "very good."

Last week, during a summit meeting in Florida with Japanese Prime Minister Shnizo Abe, Trump raised the possibility that the meeting might not come off, or could be ended early if he is not satisfied.

"If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go," Trump said. "If the meeting, when I'm there, is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, and we'll continue what we're doing or whatever it is that we'll continue."

Over the past year, Trump has lobbied China and other countries to cut off economic assistance to North Korea in an effort to pressure Kim to give up his nuclear weapons. Trump and aides say that pressure is bringing Kim to the table.

In a tweet, Trump again criticized presidential predecessors for letting the North Korea issue fester, saying that "the work I am doing now should have been done a long time ago!"

In yet another tweet, Trump chided foreign policy analysts in general: "Funny how all of the Pundits that couldn’t come close to making a deal on North Korea are now all over the place telling me how to make a deal!"