By Kim Bo-eun

Secret contacts are taking place between Pyongyang and Washington to prepare for a summit between their leaders slated for May, according to sources, Sunday.

Citing Donald Trump administration officials familiar with the matter, CNN reported "secret direct talks" are being held, focusing on the venue of the summit. It stated intelligence officials of the two states have spoken and even met in a third country.

The report dispelled concerns the summit may fall through: Such concerns had risen because North Korea has refrained from reporting about the summit, and there have been no recent reports of developments with regards to the meeting from either side.

But CNN quoted the government sources as saying "the participation of the North Koreans in the preparatory talks gives them more confidence Kim is serious about the meeting."

The sources also said, "Pyongyang has reaffirmed Kim is willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

State Department officials are reportedly communicating with their North Korean counterparts through the New York channel _ their mission to the United Nations.

The report said the location of the venue will likely be decided first, with discussions on the date and agenda of the summit to follow.

A Cheong Wa Dae official referred to the preparatory talks as a "positive sign."

The report also raised speculation the summit could be postponed, saying officials are preparing with their target as May or June.

"It appears there would be a postponement because there is not much time left for preparations," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Kyungnam University.

"The summit was unexpectedly arranged with South Korea as the mediator, and currently the Trump administration is seen as lacking experts on North Korea."

Last month Joseph Yun, the state department's point man on North Korea, left his post.


Possible locations for summit

Multiple locations have been brought up so far.

The CNN report stated North Korea is pushing for Pyongyang as the location of the bilateral talks, considering the fact that its leader Kim Jong-un invited Trump for talks.

Washington has also been mentioned, but it seems unlikely either of the leaders will travel to his counterpart's country.

The truce village of Panmunjeom, where the inter-Korean summit will take place this month, has also been cited as a possible venue for the talks.

Media reports have also mentioned the governments of Mongolia and Sweden as being interested in serving as the location.

Mongolia is known to have friendly relations with both Pyongyang and Washington.

As for Sweden, the country has an embassy in Pyongyang, which has been acting as a bridge between North Korea and the U.S., as the two do not have formal diplomatic ties.

Meanwhile, Chinese media promoted Beijing as the "optimum location" for the summit.

"There will be utmost consideration of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's safety and his route of travel and the venue will be decided accordingly," professor Kim said.