President Donald Trump acknowledged the long-tense situation with North Korea has “come a long way, at least rhetorical[ly],” adding a deal to end its nuclear arms and long-range missile programs would be “a great thing for the world.”

“They seem to be acting positively,” he said of the North Korean government. “We are prepared to go either way.”

[Even on North Korea, Trump Shifts Wildly]

The president’s comments came during an Oval Office event welcoming his Swedish counterpart to the White House.

Sweden has an embassy in Pyongyang, and Trump said the Swedish government has been “helpful” in easing tensions over the North’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. 

Watch: Senators Mum on Trump’s UN Threat to ‘Totally Destroy’ N. Korea if Attacked