A historic meeting between the United States and North Korea... on American soil.

Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, is in New York for a high-level meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

It comes ahead of a potential meeting between Kim and Donald Trump.

Former CIA division chief Bruce Kilinger told Kate Hawkesby even if the meeting achieves nothing, it will be a victory for North Korea.

"Given it's place on the state sponsors of terrorism list, by having a meeting, it seems to be a bit of a recognition of them as a nuclear state and as a normal nation."

LISTEN TO BRUCE KILINGER TALK WITH KATE HAWKESBY ABOVE