By Lee Min-hyung

U.S. President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that the U.S. and North Korea are having talks to choose the location for his second summit with Kim Jong-un.

The summit, if realized, could provide a possible breakthrough in their stalled denuclearization talks. Trump's latest message also suggests that the U.S., which is under pressure to loosen sanctions on Pyongyang, is becoming more open to dialogue with the North to move the peace process forward.

"We are negotiating a location," Trump told reporters, Sunday (local time). "It will be announced probably in the not too distant future."

Trump did not specify other details for his possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

But the remark is taken to mean the two countries have renewed their commitment to dialogue on the North's denuclearization and ended their months-long deadlock over failure to fine-tune differences on the method and timeline.

Trump went on to underline that he keeps in touch with Kim, and both have a "very good relationship." Trump also said he "indirectly speaks" with the North Korean leader.

The denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang has in recent months failed to make outstanding progress following their first summit in June.

But Kim's letter sent to Trump earlier this year has rekindled hopes for them to end their stalemate on the dialogue soon by seeking a breakthrough in their second leadership meeting.

Given the latest remark by Trump, both sides are expected to hold a series of working-level or high-level dialogues in a near future to narrow their differences on the agenda and schedules for the possible second summit.

Washington and Pyongyang have failed to resume their high-level talks after the latter canceled a planned dialogue in early November between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee.