By Park Si-soo

Mongolia and Singapore are vying to host the historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korean newspaper Joongang Ilbo reported on Wednesday, citing government sources.

North Korea wants the summit in its capital Pyongyang, but the U.S. is reluctant to accept the idea due to safety and other issues, according to the daily. European countries and South Korea were excluded in the early stage of negotiations, it said.

"The location could be decided as early as this week," Joongang quoted a government source as saying. "But its announcement could be pushed back at the request of the North till the date and agenda are finalized."

Trump and Kim are expected to meet in May or June.

Kim's private jet's limited range was a major reason why the North excluded Europe, it said. The flight, codenamed Chammae-1, was reportedly produced in the 1970s and can fly nonstop up to 5,000 kilometers, not enough to reach Stockholm or Zurich ― two suggested European locations ― that are nearly 7,200 and 8,500 kilometers from Pyongyang.

The source said Singapore is the most likely location for three reasons: (1) political neutrality; (2) having North Korean and U.S. embassies on its soil; (3) it is within the range of Kim's jet.