President Donald Trump has accepted North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's dramatic offer to meet, the White House has confirmed.

South Korea's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong first announced the face-to-face and claimed it was due to take place by May.

However, a statement from the White House did not confirm the two-month timeframe and said the place and time of the meeting was still being worked out. 

Governments around the world welcomed the announcement, with praise coming from the UK, Russia and Australia.

'President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon. He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement a half hour after South Korea's announcement.

'We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain.' 

Chung, who made the announcement on behalf of South Korea, led the delegation visiting North Korea earlier this week. The invitation to meet Trump was made to him directly by Kim.

The foreign official said that Kim understands and accepts the fact that joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises will continue and that he also made promises to halt nuclear and ballistic tests until the meeting with Trump takes place.

A U.S. official later said the meeting would take place in 'a matter of a couple of months' but did not commit the president to a face-to-face with Kim this spring.

'He conveyed that he wants to meet with President Trump as quickly as possible,' the senior official stated.

The official said the stiff punishing actions on North Korea would also stay in place.  

'At this point we're not even talking about negotiations,' the U.S. official said of a plan to hold North Korea to its word that it would freeze its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile development programs. 

President Trump reiterated the point in a tweet that followed.

'Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!' the U.S. president said.

Read more on dailymail.co.uk.