By Park Gil-ja and Yoon Sojung

Speculation is rising both in and out of South Korea that the second North Korea-U.S. summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump could take place next month in Vietnam.

Rep. Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, told reporters on Jan. 13 in a New Year’s news conference at the National Assembly, "The first summit between North Korea and the U.S. took place last year after a meeting between the leaders of North Korea and China. So I suppose that the next North Korea-U.S. summit could be held in February."

He also predicted that high-ranking officials from Pyeongyang and Washington are likely to hold talks soon to help arrange the summit, saying, "I assume that high-level meeting participants from both sides will have discussions to produce substantial progress in the next summit."

"The two sides seem to be negotiating more concrete issues such as the dismantlement of nuclear facilities and easing sanctions on the North as corresponding measures."

Amid growing speculation that the second North Korea-U.S. summit will come next month, global media are reporting that Vietnam is considered the best venue for the meeting.

Japan’s leading dailies, the Yomiuri Shimbun and the Asahi Shimbun, reported on Jan. 13 that U.S. President Donald Trump suggested to the North holding the second summit in Vietnam next month, adding that while Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia and Vietnam are considered venue candidates, only Vietnam has undergone review to that end.

If the second summit is held, Yomiuri quoted experts and sources as saying, both sides will look for middle ground between U.S. demands for Pyeongyang to take denuclearization steps and the North’s insistence on reciprocal measures from Washington.

The Singaporean daily Straits Times made the same prediction for Vietnam on Jan. 12, saying, "Vietnam appears to be the most likely contender to host the anticipated summit" between the U.S. and North Korea "alongside other options such as Thailand, Indonesia and Hawaii."

Many foreign media have picked Vietnam as the summit venue because both the North and the U.S. have embassies in Hanoi, making the Southeast Asian country a neutral zone. Another appeal of Vietnam is apparently its accessibility for Pyeongyang and Washington and being "within plane distance" as proposed by President Trump as a criterion for the location of the second summit.

Meanwhile, CNN reported on Jan. 15 that a letter from President Trump was delivered to North Korean leader Kim. It also said Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North’s ruling Workers' Party and one of Pyeongyang’s top negotiators, could visit Washington as soon as this week to finalize details of the summit.

krun@korea.kr