South Koreans are beginning to like Trump and Kim Jong-un more despite chaos and confusion, says poll

It has been a topsy-turvy week on the Korean Peninsula thanks to the on-again, off-again historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

But despite the tumultuous week, South Koreans remain hopeful that a summit between the two will be successful - and as of this week both are enjoying their highest approval ratings ever in South Korea, according to a new Gallup Korea poll released Friday.

Trump last week scrapped the highly anticipated June 12 summit, blaming North Koreans for their “open hostility”. But on Friday, after meeting with North Korea’s Kim Yong-chol, he announced the Singapore-based talks were back on.

Speaking after the meeting, Trump said: “We are going to deal and we are really going to start a process. Remember what I say, we will see what we will see,” adding: “I look forward to the day I can take the sanctions off North Korea.”

Meanwhile, North and South Korean officials are working to increase communication between the two countries and improve their relations. On Friday, they held high-level talks to discuss improving inter-Korean relations and agreed to open a liaison office as soon as possible.

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South Koreans’ attitude toward Trump and Kim vastly improved compared to previous polls. One year ago, just 9 per cent of South Koreans approved of the new US president, largely because they didn’t know what to expect from the political newcomer, analysts say. And just 10 per cent of South Koreans approved of Kim just two months ago.