But the ABC news live you're watching historic meeting here at the White House that is Kim young tool arriving at the White House and he will be met. By John Kelly and John apple in this is this outside the White House right now I'm joined by our national political director. He's gonna help with weight and weigh in on this recliner use are you with the yeah his Akron aren't so what are we looking at right now. Well right now we're looking at. Highest ranking emissary from North Korea to act for the White House in eighteen years since the year 2000. A roughly similar event happened under President Bill Clinton. But this time the stakes are quite high and we understand that he will go into the Oval Office to meet in me at least briefly with president trump and according to the president. He received eighty president as a received a letter from Kim Jong-un himself unknown what the contents of this letter are. What it means exactly. But this is presumably a response to the president's letter just more than a week ago hardly believe it is just more than a week ago that the president called the summit off. He said it is June 12 planned meeting in Singapore would not be happening is setting the bellicose behavior and language. Of the north Koreans since that time a strange things happened which is both sides are pretending or or acting as if this this summit is actually ought. Which to me suggests that that people side see that there's a lot riding so. I think expectation is a more conciliatory tone. In this letter that would doubt lead to the reinstatement of a summit that's just two weeks away. Now you're seeing them again walk through the column not a mean beyond is affected it's good TV yet. I think that it really please. To the presidency go here right just that we go he was saying that this thing was off but at the same time said you know. You can call you can write there's a way to make this right in here they are. Showing up at the white house with his hand written letter have been have been Christine anything just quite like this. Well he had he had a call me maybe moment last week and it does appear that in Dublin has responded to that so if you're the president Erica the president's defenders people that that that explain the president's behavior believe in the president's behavior this it looked. It shows that he's a master negotiator this is part of the plan all along we all covered and we all saw the language the president used to say this thing is off. We were told by national security officials in the ensuing gays it to be very difficult to reinstate in a short period of time. But it does appear that they were all sorts of mash and nations that continue to delegation in Singapore. On the site of the potential summit as well as this an unusual trip now by the top North Korean official. To the United States. I'm meetings in New York yesterday with the secretary of state Mike Pompeo and now the journey down to Washington to hand deliver this this letter. You're right about the optics of it I think the extraordinary theater that's involved in and delivering a latter has a lot to do with it and it to me is just another indication that both president trump. And Canada on understand. The that the public perceptions around these things they understand the power of the imagery that surrounds meetings in moments like this. And as we look at some of these visuals Rick I'm I'm I'm wondering if you can help both myself and some of our viewers. Understand. Where they are in the White House and in a exactly where they're head yet little lay of the land. Sorrell Colin aid it that that you reference is just outside the Oval Office that it that part of the working part of the White House actually quite a small building. When your C a shots of the photographers moving around. On on the other side that's where their captain this is that there the more formal ceremonial entrance to the White House you also see the president leave the White House through this area when he gets and that helicopter to head off to Andrews Air Force Base. It is not as functional. It uses it is a ceremonial use and I think the pageantry of it suggested that did this they wanted this to. To be seen by the cameras there are ways to get it out of the White House without us noticing that happens all the time this is not one of them. I this is much this is much more about the big ranger of the White House and receiving a distinguished guests. You know we heard from our secretary of state Mike Pompeo yesterday after that meeting up here in New York he talked about kind of the process about the idea that there's going to be some rocky terrain in that. Their views they are aware of that and kind of looking at this. As the long game but it it appears to me that. You know things are moving pretty. Smoothly or pretty quickly the last couple days here you have a much better sense of that and I do what what are you an in your colleagues down in DC talk about. It's fascinating to me because I think you're right Zachary that things are moving very quickly and has a lot more going on behind the scenes than we even know about. At the same time the president has been tempering expectations. And same meat we can't get everything done in the one day so this went from it's going to be model modeled president Kim Jung on. Together in Singapore and their Gannett there and it agreed to complete and total in reversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula blots we will set while I can't happen and it can't happen without a lot of work being done it is not realistic to expect that so we've seen some adjustments around the edges the president will not. Admitted in changes. But the meetings that have happened at lower levels are exactly the kind of meetings that you need you don't just walk into a summit like this and expect to get any sort of agreement between the two principals. All sorts of particulars have to get worked outage maps centimeter suggested they are serious about this isn't just about 888 the show of June 12 though that's a piece of it. This is about to leaders people want this summit to happen very desperately. The president has talked about in terms of legacy terms hinge on we presume that we haven't heard from we presume is thinking about it in terms of historic terms of of what it means for his nation opening up their economy. Entering the world. At large according to president drop. So this is exactly the kind of work that has happened this and theatrics and things that gets in front of the cameras like this hand delivered letter. And like the ultimate meeting if it happens June 12. But that the hard work has to be done in advance and then afterward and to me the signal is that all sides want that artwork to happen. You know I don't remember there ever been a town where there's been so much talk about the talk you know them. And I'm wondering you know kind of uses sports now a year I don't know bidders. Is there are such a thing is is is small victory here for example you that the cavs last night clearly didn't mean. You game. But maybe there's some positive take ways if this meeting doesn't happen is there's still something. Positive. Oh in terms of political points that that the pumpkin thing has had on here. Well cast and it may disagree about any symbolic veterans at symbolic got the news. Look look look look look like the promised by pretty hard fired the next day in and there's actually something similar that might happen in diplomacy is that you get really close and it doesn't happen what's the next step after that. And if they actually have the meeting. People elect talked to a national security circles said usually this meeting happens at the end of a very long process it appears that president trump. Is trying to turn that on its head believes accurate looking out this is the Oval Office itself the cameras getting in there you just tiniest glimpse of what might be doing on. On the other side before any cameras are allowed in before you know read out as a pretty fascinating shot right now. We believe that's where this top North Korean official the head of the nuclear program is actually having a conversation with the president himself. I delivering we believe and delivering a letter from in Allen. Rick Klein with us down and Washington DC you've given us the means that there. And watch this visual here at the White House's North Korean envoy. Arrives there Rick thank you so much we're gonna give it now go over to Martha Raddatz she's the he BC. Burrow down mayor mark that you appear New York City yesterday. At this press conference that secretary of state. You've tried to pin him down on. If and when we would learn if this. Meeting would happen. Are you hearing anything new today. I've really nothing new today as you know secretary Pompeo said yesterday he didn't really know went this would officially. The announced if it would officially be announced but he said it again and again that he really did CC thing that the north Koreans were ready. To put themselves on a path forward now one of the things we have heard since then. As we wait for president trumped either reader just accept this letter from Kim Jung and obviously their translators in there. Is we heard from the north Koreans this morning from Kim Jung on. Saying they are re affirming that commitment to denuclearization. Of the Korean Peninsula saying they hope for a phased process. This could be solved by a stage by stage basis. I think what he's also meaning and there is he'd like to see sanctions relief on a phased basis you know president trump has said he wants this ala once. And then in the end there would be sanctions relief once those nuclear weapons were out of the way. And gotten rid but I think what the north Koreans would really want in this is in some sort of economic relief. And I don't think that's something the White House has ruled out either and now president trump has made it very clear what he'd prefer. To have the entire thing done. You've also heard president trump say this might take more than one meeting might take several. Meetings to solve this I think that's what the north Koreans are saying it's well. You know you think about this letter that's being delivered now and yesterday in New York City when secretary Pompeo announced it. You have to wonder what was in that latter because it was probably written before not something that was sent to him just yesterday after that meeting. So my take on that is they made enough progress. And the north Koreans feel that as well that they would deliver this letter. To president trump either saying look we would like to go ahead with this or. One practice swings at letters that. Back on the shot now. That window at the in the Oval Office you know mark days. It's hard for me nots new you know. Think about the reality TV star here right I mean. To step optics of this the these the world watching this in you know you mentioned what the president prefer is one thing that we do know he preferred his kind of pandering to his ego in the idea that. You know this envoys in the come down in. Hand delivered this letter. How do you how do you make sense of oh. Well it is all very dramatic and of course the north Koreans have been watching president trump as well. And they'd know he likes that drop out like this. Other world leaders have responded in the same way to president trump. Our you've got all those cameras out there you've got all the white house press corps out there waiting you've got us here. Waiting patiently to see what's in that letter what it means whether president trump will come out make some sort of announcement. Or whether it will be by tweet or whether you're old string us along for another week or so he said the announcement could come at any time or not. And as president trump likes to say we'll just Billings. Just have to weigh the means we read we talked about kind of it as we have over and over game with this president kind of his arm orthodox approach the idea that. You know in prior administrations conversations like this. Would have probably happened behind the scenes you get work done. You in the U you build up to the big meeting. It really seems like he's really from whole thing on its head and he's he's doing things he has waived once again. It you know he he is and I think everyone was so startled when they announced that there would be a summit. With the two world leaders. Without anything building up to that are no diplomatic build up to that. But I think when you look at the last week or so. Since that is being canceled that things have gone back to a more traditional. Manner because you've got secretary of state Mike Pompeo involved you've got. Lower level officials are now involved trying to work out these details. So I think in many ways it has gone back to a more traditional role and what we're seeing right now is not really very traditional at all. I think John Carlo tally of edits the the only the second time in history. North Korean leader has been in the White House. And we have that happening again right now. Without letters of president trumped those like to do things his way and this is a very different way to do but there has been a lot of weight work. In the last week or so there at that planning has gone on despite the fact that the summit was abruptly canceled. So maybe in the and that's a good thing they got all these arms sticking points or some of them anyway. Out of the way you know my house passage yesterday issued a Zachary that there could be bad days there could be tough times there were in the room. Sector Pompeo said that they would you know tossed back and forth ideas and he gets them trust right back at him. But it seems they have. Ironed out a few. Of the details that might not have been iron out before. Martha Raddatz forced down at the ABC grow in the Washington DC thank you so much for your time gonna. Pivot now and then go back to Rick Klein and I'm curious Rick you know reduce John Kelly earlier we John Bolton. Chief of staff and national security advisor I'm curious did to uses some TV lingo. Who's producing this moment is this is this is this twelve Aureus is he leaning on some some of the other folks he has around him into it did to get where we are right now. My hunch is that the president is his own executive producer on this one and there maybe other people that are theory out some of the logistics of it but the idea of bringing into the Oval Office the a top ranking official North Korea that as a class crop move. Eddie Martha's right that a lot of this has been return to normalcy so to speak after. Some very abnormal things were said between the two leaders and then the extraordinary announcement of a summit and the cancellation. But there are some flourishes here that. It's a B suggests that that it trump has an ally on on what Kim Jong-un. Looks for it's a sign of the utmost respect to personally receive an envoy like this. I keep mine. North Koreans Ari you're free to travel around the United States' laws and can't leave the country themselves but even their diplomats are tightly controlled in what they can do under normal circumstances these are not normal circumstances. I'm and this is again the highest ranking such official to be United States via the White House in almost twenty years in means something and the president act recognizes the power. The pageantry. Of the imagery and recognizes that he believes that his counterpart North Korea is someone who would respond in kind. You know we're pretty email heavy around here but I should not that I do like hand I do I can written letters so. I can understand where he's gets a bit of a throwback. It's also indicated that model are these days often it's a PDF it's not now it's like this is it that. This is actually hand and delivered. I can't remember one like this in Washington since the president fired he told me as a matter back. It's that it is it is a bit of a throwback you do business all this anticipation about what's in the letter how do you open letter is it in English lot of questions answered. It's a great question is that in English is it you know in cursed. If you read the letter on the spot as you said it on the table I mean. It's it's a really interesting thing. One thing that I'm really fascinated about Rick is. What is. What is. That trumps administration. Sell. To north Koreans that says. This is what you gotta do because on the backside of this you're gonna read. These rewards this is what makes sense for you to do. Short of the president has dangled. Fortune allies not fame in climate change on. And as basic Seles looked your country is stock isolated. Battered by sanctions. A rogue regime that no one on on most of the countries on on the planet or even have a relationship with. And you can't keep the lights on your people are impoverished and dying of starvation. Welcome to the 21 century and this is your ticket. Into maternity this is your ticket into the of the wealth of other nations the president has been explicit about that you'll be rich they'll be wealthy. His country moves along and trumps essential calculation is that Kim Jung won unlike his spot like his ramp up. Views himself as a transformational figure inside his own country and is willing to do things that are. Far beyond what his predecessors. Would do where they view themselves and I'm very high minded. The ethic the godly ways that they viewed. Everything they did as exactly right. You know I interview earlier this week Bill Richardson who who spent has been the North Korean out eight times he met with Kim Jones father Kim John ill. To negotiate hostage releases he was a go to guy for North Korean relations under Republican and democratic presidents. Any city just have to know. That the north Koreans think differently than the American side they think about it in terms of these infallible ways that they believe it. The supreme leader it has the divine mandate. And if that's the kind of way that you have to appeal to someone like that I think the president the president from. With a lot of the the Gloucester. And now a lot of the flattery has tried to appeal to Kim Jong Owens' ego. In trying to appeal to a man in his mid thirties who's not necessarily secure in the job as always the concern about a coup. Who and who may be thinking okay here's my time is right time to take national elections and if I give up nuclear weapons it means that I'm secure my people more prosperous. It's a big gamble because there's been nothing literally nothing in North Korean behavior before that make you think that he may want to do this but the president has felt from the beginning that he could understand this man. And if he gets him in the room get into agree to something that would be unthinkable. You know we were talking about this yesterday I think it came from conversation yesterday with more that we are talking about. I think she mentioned coming this this vision for in the fortunes involved. And it it made me think after the suspect. If if if trump is he's pitching. The future. That that reflects you know. The ideals that America was built on or if it's the new America we know about the income inequality here we know that there are two different in America's at least and I'm I'm just curious is this vision for North Korea where others. Shared vision and you know shared path moving forward for for everyone or or that. Have and the have nots. I think you could get that back it up even half step from there Zachary and realize that the North Korean vision of what America is is nowhere near the reality. This is a place that routinely uses imagery of American landmarks. Being being destroyed by North Korean means that depicts. Through it manipulated media the Americans is as evil players on the world stage. And if that's the starting point. That that all of this comes from and that's why it's seem so unthinkable that you have these conversations. As for whether the president is pitching they have version of liberal Jeffersonian democracy to the north Koreans. I have a hard time seeing that now we don't know what he's having private conversations about but something tells me this isn't one and in free and open democratic elections in North Korea. That would be in orders of magnitude beyond what could be expected I think much more realistic to expect. Is that do the United States is part of recognizing North Korea also recognizes. That there are certain brutalities in the human rights world in I'm terms of civil liberties in terms of treatment of the wrong people that just aren't gonna change. This president above even other previous presidents hasn't really prioritize that in he has shown his relationship on the world stage to be very transactional. If you're willing to work with a month something he's willing to say nice things about you and he doesn't seem that interested in in that it would be considered domestic primaries so. I I think it's a wild before you can expect. American airliners to arrive carrying American tourists who have three. Free roam of North Korea like you might in Western Europe or Canada or Mexico or other allies I think we're a ways away from anything like that. It you know you it to good point you bring up related to kind of the way things are done over there and bring up human rights violations and things like that that the same time. This president has shown fascinating ability to compartmentalize. And it appears that maybe he's doing the same thing it right. Yeah I mean. He views this about as about nuclear weapons I'd I don't think that anyone should pretend that it's about something other than that at this stage that this the president's views. Nuclear weapons as as an existential threat to the world frankly. We know the President Obama is one meeting with president thoughtful to North Korea is the biggest issue. That you're gonna have to confront. And we've had almost no visibility to what's going on inside the inside that nation. We have worse intelligence. Assets on the ground smalls are now probably anywhere on the globe. Literally place goes dark at night. You see on satellite imagery so you going from that stage to the president saying I think I can deal with this guy it has to do with this issue of taking their weapons off the table again. Is this calculation that the North Korean regime in front line willing to just think differently than they have the entirety of their history. And say. Despite the that the rhetoric and the behavior of the last seven years that yes. We are willing to walk into the community of nations that by the way I think is why that their comments about the Libyan model seem to it to throw things off a couple of weeks ago when John Bolton talked about the Libya model. He of course was talking about Qaddafi decision to negotiate the end of his nuclear program under the Bush Administration. However the Libya model didn't and that wealth for for Qaddafi himself. Author other forces. Where the United States wasn't directly involved Qaddafi of course lost his life that regime was up and that happened under the Obama administration so. That that piece of it I don't know the can talk about living without thinking about apple parts of that conversation and that's I think why the the north Koreans reacted so negatively. To that comment debuted as as a threat on their supreme leader and Kim Jong-un doesn't want to see a regime change. He's gonna look for guarantees of his own security is part this. Again the window into the Oval Office a window into. What to going on over there today provided by my colleague down in Washington DC recline. We're talking about. The talk when it could happen how could happen of course Kim young soul at the White House today meeting with president from two. Personally deliver a letter from Kim Jones on this is all about trying to get to that. Get to that summit. Indeed nuclear a North Korea. All this talk about nukes all this talk about you know there's this week that North Korea has over their. Forgive me if I'm get enough. Up page here but what what our nuclear capabilities here in the US Rick. Weld the president said that his nuclear button is bigger than in Kim Jong Owens and his works he's right. Our nuclear capabilities are far and away the the best in the world I believe any expert would tell you that there's the capacities it. To tape to reach any target and is virtually any time. That is not change the president has talked about the need to to reinforce the nuclear arsenal despite agreements and previous administrations that effort built it down. But the idea of overwhelming force and the ability to two axes to obliterate. Any part of the world at any time or means part of the American capabilities. Keep in mind when we talk about North Korea right now. There's a reason that that when they sense a top. Top diplomat over to United States hit the fly commercial they don't have airliners that anything yet here they're capabilities in terms than in terms of nuclear weapons are. Our vast and have expanded greatly but it's nothing like what the United States is capable of and that's why when the president's at fired fury and locked and loaded. And meet these the heat these threats they had to be viewed in a very real sense. And I wonder when this when the story of this is all nonsense re how much of this is going to be about. President trump. Trying to to one up Kim Jung and his own game. And trying to match the rhetoric. Blustery statement for blustery statement recognizing maybe just maybe that's the one where you can get through. Rick Klein I really appreciate your time down there we're going to. Sign off fewer historic day at the White House hand delivered letter by the North Korean. On boy what a time worrying again. I'm exactly keys here in New York we're gonna sign off but we will stick with this picture will be back with any updates they've Jordan's.