President Trump told Congress: 'As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula'
DONALD Trump has announced he will hold landmark talks with Kim Jong-un later this month while also building bridges at home.
In last night's State of the Union address, the US President revealed news of a two-day summit with the North Korean leader in Vietnam on February 27-28.
However, Trump began his speech with a tone of "co-operation, compromise and the common good" amid calls for unity on the home front.
He was given a standing ovation by BOTH sides of house after hailing record numbers of women in work and in Congress.
Democrats and Republicans rose to their feet and chanted "USA! USA!" in a move that was clearly appreciated by the under-fire President.
Trump also used his speech to call for the investigations against him to be brought to an end - just like President Richard Nixon did in 1974.
Although he did not mention special investigator Robert Mueller by name, he did single out “ridiculous” and “partisan” investigations.
Nixon famously told Congress: “I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end.
"One year of Watergate is enough!”
The talks with the North Korean leader are part of ongoing efforts to persuade Kim to give up his deadly nuclear weapons arsenal.
If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea
They will come after the United Nations accused the rogue state of hiding its nuke stockpile from inspectors.
Speaking to Congress, the President said that continued outreach to Kim and their first meeting last June in Singapore opened a path to peace.
But there is not yet a concrete plan for how denuclearisation could be implemented.
President Trump said on Tuesday night: "As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Denuclearising North Korea is something that has eluded the US for more than two decades.
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress last week that American intelligence officials do not believe Kim will eliminate his nuclear weapons.
Nor will Kim scrap his country's capacity to build more - because he believes they are key to the survival of the regime.
Last year, North Korea released American detainees and suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests.
It also dismantled a nuclear test site and parts of a rocket launch facility without the presence of outside experts.
The hermit state has repeatedly demanded that the United States reciprocate with measures such as sanctions relief.
But Washington has called for North Korea to take steps such as providing a detailed account of its nuclear and missile facilities that would be inspected and dismantled under a potential deal.
President Trump added: "Our hostages have come home, nuclear testing has stopped, and there has not been a missile launch in more than 15 months.
"If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea.
"Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one."
The Vietnamese city where the two leaders will meet was not announced.
I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans
Earlier the President revealed he was also planning to build bridges - and not just walls - in the US.
He said: "I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans".
The President added that Americans are "hoping that we will govern not as two parties, but as one nation."
He continued: "We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future.
"The decision is ours to make.
"We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction.
"Tonight I ask you to choose greatness."
But as he condemned political turmoil in Venezuela, Trump declared that "America will never be a socialist country".
His remark was seen as targeting high-profile Democrats such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders who identify as socialists.
We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was praised by Democrats for her hard-line negotiating during the shutdown, sat behind Trump throughout the speech.
She joined several other Democrat women in wearing white - the colour worn by suffragettes.
But reaching out an olive branch to opponents, Trump praised the record-breaking number of women in the American workforce.
Democrat congresswoman, who were the big winners in the recent mid-term elections, then stood for applause.
At this point, the President joked: "Don't sit down yet, you're going to love this."
Pointing to the Congresswomen, he added: "We also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before".
He was repeatedly interrupted by cheers as the women - almost all Democrats - slapped high fives and hugged to celebrate the accomplishment.
"You weren't supposed to do that," Trump joked.
The celebration of the record number of women in Congress morphed into a "USA! USA!" chant that the entire chamber soon took up.
"That's great, really great," Trump said. "And congratulations, that's great."
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