North Korea said on Tuesday the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-seizes-north-korean-cargo-ship-accused-of-violating-sanctions-217341">seizure of one of its cargo ships</a> by the United States was an illegal act that violated the spirit of a summit pact between the two countries' leaders and demanded the return of the vessel.

In a statement, the North's foreign ministry said it rejected UN Security Council resolutions against it, which the United States cited in impounding the vessel, as a violation of its sovereignty.

The US Justice Department last week said it had seized a North Korean cargo ship that it accused of illicit coal shipments in violations of sanctions after it was first detained by Indonesia.

"Our office uncovered North Korea's scheme to export tons of high-grade coal to foreign buyers by concealing the origin of their ship, the Wise Honest," US attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement.

"This scheme not only allowed North Korea to evade sanctions, but the Wise Honest was also used to import heavy machinery to North Korea," Berman said.

The ship, which was first confiscated by other foreign maritime authorities in Indonesia in April 2018, is now in the possession of the United States, a Justice Department official had said.

The 17,061-ton ship, which also was used to deliver heavy machinery to North Korea, is one of the country's largest bulk carriers, the Justice Department said.

The case marks the first time the United States has seized a North Korean cargo vessel for violating sanctions.

According to UN sanctions monitors, the Wise Honest was transporting 25,500 tons of coal when it was detained by Indonesia in April 2018.

The UN report estimated that the value of the ship's coal cargo was around $3 million.

North Korea said on Tuesday the seizure of one of its cargo ships by the United States was an illegal act that violated the spirit of a summit pact between the two countries' leaders and demanded the return of the vessel.

North Korea said on Tuesday the seizure of one of its cargo ships by the United States was an illegal act that violated the spirit of a summit pact between the two countries' leaders and demanded the return of the vessel. In a statement, the North's foreign ministry said it rejected UN Security Council resolutions against it, which the United States cited in impounding the vessel, as a violation of its sovereignty. The US Justice Department last week said it had seized a North Korean cargo ship that it accused of illicit coal shipments in violations of sanctions after it was first detained by Indonesia. "Our office uncovered North Korea's scheme to export tons of high-grade coal to foreign buyers by concealing the origin of their ship, the Wise Honest," US attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. "This scheme not only allowed North Korea to evade sanctions, but the Wise Honest was also used to import heavy machinery to North Korea," Berman said. The ship, which was first confiscated by other foreign maritime authorities in Indonesia in April 2018, is now in the possession of the United States, a Justice Department official had said. The 17,061-ton ship, which also was used to deliver heavy machinery to North Korea, is one of the country's largest bulk carriers, the Justice Department said. The case marks the first time the United States has seized a North Korean cargo vessel for violating sanctions. According to UN sanctions monitors, the Wise Honest was transporting 25,500 tons of coal when it was detained by Indonesia in April 2018. The UN report estimated that the value of the ship's coal cargo was around $3 million.

North Korea says ship seizure by US violates spirit of Trump-Kim summit

For Americans, Vietnam is a place associated with their country’s bloodiest war. It has entered their conscience once again due to the failed denuclearisation summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong un and President Donald Trump.

The stage was set for a second meet between the two world leaders in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi from February 27 to 28. The venue added more significance to the high stakes talks.

But the summit broke down without any official statements. North Korea had demanded the lifting of the US sanctions. Washington rejected the demands saying that sanctions would end when Pyongyang dismantles its nuclear sites.

Days after the talk, there are no clear signs of any progress in negotiations between the two camps.

But denuclearisation wasn’t the only thing that the Trump administration was trying to achieve in Hanoi. The other aim was to sell the ‘Vietnam Model of Development’ to North Korea.

Ahead of the summit, Trump had tweeted that North Korea would become an ‘economic rocket’. The US wanted to convince North Korea to divert funds from its nuclear programme to its tanking economy.

White House sought an example for the hermit nation closer to home. Vietnam, a communist country with a flourishing economy seemed to fit the bill for communist North Korea.

It was a different story that Vietnam was also an example of a small nation defeating a superpower.

But the ‘socialist-oriented market economy’ was not the sole reason for picking the South-East Asian nation. Both the US and North Korea have a shared history with Vietnam.

The two nations fought in the Vietnam War but on opposite sides. North Korea had backed anti-US and eventually victorious Vietcong forces.

The US- Vietnam relations improved significantly, years after the war. While Pyongyang still bears resentment against Washington for the Korean War (1950-53).

Post-war, Vietnam suffered from US economic sanctions.

But Vietnam’s economy continued to progress majorly due to the 1986 ‘Doi Moi’ liberalisation reforms, and partly because of the lifting of the US, UN and other international sanctions in the 1990s.

The Vietnam War ended in 1975 so what led to sanctions to be drawn for that long?

Shortly after independence, Vietnam engaged in a war with neighbouring Cambodia that ended in 1979. However, Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia continued for a decade, until Hanoi decided to officially end hostilities to get rid of international sanctions.

The onus here somewhat lies with North Korea. In Vietnam’s case, sanctions were lifted after an end to aggression. It also remains to be seen if Trump would forgo sanctions in favour of the third summit with Kim Jong Un.

For Americans, Vietnam is a place associated with their country’s bloodiest war. It has entered their conscience once again due to the failed denuclearisation summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong un and President Donald Trump.

For Americans, Vietnam is a place associated with their country’s bloodiest war. It has entered their conscience once again due to the failed denuclearisation summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong un and President Donald Trump. The stage was set for a second meet between the two world leaders in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi from February 27 to 28. The venue added more significance to the high stakes talks. But the summit broke down without any official statements. North Korea had demanded the lifting of the US sanctions. Washington rejected the demands saying that sanctions would end when Pyongyang dismantles its nuclear sites. Days after the talk, there are no clear signs of any progress in negotiations between the two camps. But denuclearisation wasn’t the only thing that the Trump administration was trying to achieve in Hanoi. The other aim was to sell the ‘Vietnam Model of Development’ to North Korea. Ahead of the summit, Trump had tweeted that North Korea would become an ‘economic rocket’. The US wanted to convince North Korea to divert funds from its nuclear programme to its tanking economy. White House sought an example for the hermit nation closer to home. Vietnam, a communist country with a flourishing economy seemed to fit the bill for communist North Korea. It was a different story that Vietnam was also an example of a small nation defeating a superpower. But the ‘socialist-oriented market economy’ was not the sole reason for picking the South-East Asian nation. Both the US and North Korea have a shared history with Vietnam. The two nations fought in the Vietnam War but on opposite sides. North Korea had backed anti-US and eventually victorious Vietcong forces. The US- Vietnam relations improved significantly, years after the war. While Pyongyang still bears resentment against Washington for the Korean War (1950-53). Post-war, Vietnam suffered from US economic sanctions. But Vietnam’s economy continued to progress majorly due to the 1986 ‘Doi Moi’ liberalisation reforms, and partly because of the lifting of the US, UN and other international sanctions in the 1990s. The Vietnam War ended in 1975 so what led to sanctions to be drawn for that long? Shortly after independence, Vietnam engaged in a war with neighbouring Cambodia that ended in 1979. However, Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia continued for a decade, until Hanoi decided to officially end hostilities to get rid of international sanctions. The onus here somewhat lies with North Korea. In Vietnam’s case, sanctions were lifted after an end to aggression. It also remains to be seen if Trump would forgo sanctions in favour of the third summit with Kim Jong Un.

Donald Trump-Kim Jong un summit's other aim was to sell ‘Vietnam model’ to North Korea

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-considering-to-suspend-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-203425">North Korea evade US</a> and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-time-for-us-to-recognize-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights-204736">US President Donald Trump</a> and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-time-may-pass-before-a-third-north-korea-summit-bolton-202420">summit collapsed last month</a>.

The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal.

The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China.

The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States.

Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

"Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.”

The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions.

The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure.

While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea."

LIMBO

US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks."

Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions.

On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales.

The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea.

It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels.

The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union.

The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation.

It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea.

The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers.

It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal. The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China. The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States. Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.” The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions. The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure. While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea." LIMBO US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks." Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions. On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales. The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea. It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels. The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union. The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation. It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea. The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers. It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit

North Korea has restored part of a missile launch site it began to dismantle after pledging to do so in a first summit with US President Donald Trump last year, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency and two US think tanks reported on Tuesday.

Yonhap quoted lawmakers briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) as saying that the work was taking place at the Tongchang-ri launch site and involved replacing a roof and a door at the facility.

Satellite images seen by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea project, showed that structures on the launch pad had been rebuilt sometime between Feb. 16 and March 2, Jenny Town, managing editor at the project and an analyst at the Stimson Center think tank, told Reuters.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report, also citing satellite imagery, that concluded North Korea is "pursuing a rapid rebuilding" at the site.

"Activity is evident at the vertical engine test stand and the launch pad's rail-mounted rocket transfer structure," the CSIS report said. "Significantly, the environmental shelters on the umbilical tower, which are normally closed, have been opened to show the launch pad."

The news comes days after a second summit on denuclearisation between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke down over differences on how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear programme and the degree of US willingness to ease sanctions.

The summit took place in Hanoi on February 27 and 28.

Trump told a news conference after an unprecedented first summit with Kim on June 12 in Singapore that the North Korean leader had promised that a major missile engine testing site would be destroyed very soon.

Trump did not identify the site, but a US official subsequently told Reuters it was the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, which is located at Tongchang-ri.

Asked to comment, the White House referred to the US State Department, which did not immediately respond.

A US government source said the NIS was considered reliable on such issues, but added that the work described did not seem particularly alarming, and certainly not on a scale of resuming missile tests that have been suspended since 2017.

Future dialogue?

Kim Jong-un also pledged at a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in September to close Sohae and allow international experts to observe the dismantling of the missile engine-testing site and a launch pad.

Signs that North Korea had begun acting on its pledge to Trump were detected in July when a Washington think tank said satellite images indicated work had begun at Sohae to dismantle a building used to assemble space-launch vehicles and a nearby rocket engine test stand used to develop liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles.

However, subsequent images indicated North Korea had halted work to dismantle the missile engine test site in the first part of August.

The fact that the site had been dormant since August indicates the new activity is "deliberate and purposeful," the CSIS report said.

The breakdown of the summit in Hanoi last week has raised questions about the future of US-North Korea dialogue.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful he would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks but that he had "no commitment yet."

While North Korea's official media said last week Kim and Trump had decided at the summit to continue talks, its Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters Kim "might lose his willingness to pursue a deal" and questioned the need to continue.

US&nbsp;State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told a news briefing that the United States remains "in regular contact" with North Korea, but he declined to say whether they had been in contact since the summit.

Palladino said US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, who led pre-summit negotiation efforts, planned to meet his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Wednesday.

Yonhap also quoted lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials as saying that the five-megawatt reactor at North Korea's main nuclear site at Yongbyon, which produces weapons-grade plutonium used to build bombs, had not been operational since late last year, concurring with a report from the UN atomic watchdog.

Yonhap quoted the sources as saying there had been no sign of reprocessing of plutonium from the reactor and that tunnels at North Korea's main nuclear test site in Punggye-ri had remained shut down and unattended since their widely publicized destruction in May, which Pyongyang said was proof of its commitment to ending nuclear testing.

The fate of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and its possible dismantling was a central issue in the Hanoi summit.

North Korea has restored part of a missile launch site it began to dismantle after pledging to do so in a first summit with US President Donald Trump last year, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency and two US think tanks reported on Tuesday.

North Korea has restored part of a missile launch site it began to dismantle after pledging to do so in a first summit with US President Donald Trump last year, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency and two US think tanks reported on Tuesday. Yonhap quoted lawmakers briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) as saying that the work was taking place at the Tongchang-ri launch site and involved replacing a roof and a door at the facility. Satellite images seen by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea project, showed that structures on the launch pad had been rebuilt sometime between Feb. 16 and March 2, Jenny Town, managing editor at the project and an analyst at the Stimson Center think tank, told Reuters. The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report, also citing satellite imagery, that concluded North Korea is "pursuing a rapid rebuilding" at the site. "Activity is evident at the vertical engine test stand and the launch pad's rail-mounted rocket transfer structure," the CSIS report said. "Significantly, the environmental shelters on the umbilical tower, which are normally closed, have been opened to show the launch pad." The news comes days after a second summit on denuclearisation between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke down over differences on how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear programme and the degree of US willingness to ease sanctions. The summit took place in Hanoi on February 27 and 28. Trump told a news conference after an unprecedented first summit with Kim on June 12 in Singapore that the North Korean leader had promised that a major missile engine testing site would be destroyed very soon. Trump did not identify the site, but a US official subsequently told Reuters it was the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, which is located at Tongchang-ri. Asked to comment, the White House referred to the US State Department, which did not immediately respond. A US government source said the NIS was considered reliable on such issues, but added that the work described did not seem particularly alarming, and certainly not on a scale of resuming missile tests that have been suspended since 2017. Future dialogue? Kim Jong-un also pledged at a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in September to close Sohae and allow international experts to observe the dismantling of the missile engine-testing site and a launch pad. Signs that North Korea had begun acting on its pledge to Trump were detected in July when a Washington think tank said satellite images indicated work had begun at Sohae to dismantle a building used to assemble space-launch vehicles and a nearby rocket engine test stand used to develop liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles. However, subsequent images indicated North Korea had halted work to dismantle the missile engine test site in the first part of August. The fact that the site had been dormant since August indicates the new activity is "deliberate and purposeful," the CSIS report said. The breakdown of the summit in Hanoi last week has raised questions about the future of US-North Korea dialogue. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful he would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks but that he had "no commitment yet." While North Korea's official media said last week Kim and Trump had decided at the summit to continue talks, its Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters Kim "might lose his willingness to pursue a deal" and questioned the need to continue. US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told a news briefing that the United States remains "in regular contact" with North Korea, but he declined to say whether they had been in contact since the summit. Palladino said US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, who led pre-summit negotiation efforts, planned to meet his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Wednesday. Yonhap also quoted lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials as saying that the five-megawatt reactor at North Korea's main nuclear site at Yongbyon, which produces weapons-grade plutonium used to build bombs, had not been operational since late last year, concurring with a report from the UN atomic watchdog. Yonhap quoted the sources as saying there had been no sign of reprocessing of plutonium from the reactor and that tunnels at North Korea's main nuclear test site in Punggye-ri had remained shut down and unattended since their widely publicized destruction in May, which Pyongyang said was proof of its commitment to ending nuclear testing. The fate of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and its possible dismantling was a central issue in the Hanoi summit.

North Korea rebuilding main missile site launch it promised Trump to dismantle: Report

Did the Trump-Kim summit achieve anything at all?

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again.

After weeks of building expectations and with a signing ceremony ready to go, President Donald Trump abruptly ended his second-ever meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and declared a deadlock.

"Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters.

"Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before flying back to Washington.

In an exceptionally rare meeting with reporters, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho summoned the press in Hanoi at midnight and denied the White House account that Pyongyang was only seeking a complete deal.&nbsp;

North Korea had offered to "permanently and completely dismantle all the nuclear production facilities" at its main complex in Yongbyon if the US dropped sanctions "that hamper the civilian economy and the livelihood of our people", Ri said.

He warned that the North's stance was "invariable" and that its offer will "never change".

But North Korean state media -- which less than two years ago was branding Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" -- offered a more conciliatory take, saying the summit had been "productive".

Kim and Trump "agreed to continue having productive talks to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of US-North Korea relations", the Korean Central News Agency said.

The North Koreans appeared to be thinking through their response to the often unpredictable Trump, who insisted that he could obtain a better deal.

"I'd much rather do it right than do it fast," Trump told reporters, reaffirming his "close relationship" with Kim.

"There's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will."

Trump also said he hoped to see Kim again soon but offered no details.

'It will take a little while'

The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of hopes that the meeting would build on the leaders' summit in Singapore in June, which marked a historic first but resulted only in a vague commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".&nbsp;

Progress subsequently stalled, with the two sides disagreeing on what that means.

The US president has since frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point tweeting there was "AWESOME" potential.

But it was not enough.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who accompanied Trump, said both sides "need to regroup" before agreeing to another meeting, adding: "My sense is it will take a little while."

Pompeo however also said "there's still a basis for believing that we can move forward".

Beyond the sub-par summit result, Trump came under fire at home for saying that Kim "didn't know" about the torture of an American college student jailed in the North.

Otto Warmbier, who was arrested for allegedly taking down a poster, returned home in 2017 in a coma and died soon afterward, with a US judge ruling that the 22-year-old had died from torture.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought there was "something wrong" with a US president choosing to believe "thugs" such as Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the US intelligence community.

'Major failure'

With a table already prepared for a working lunch and signing ceremony, Trump moved up his final news conference by two hours as he and Kim left without any accord.

"This is a major failure," tweeted Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund peace foundation, saying it showed the limits of top-level summitry with "not enough time or staff" to work out a deal.&nbsp;

Trump flew around the world for the meeting and Kim undertook a mammoth two-and-a-half-day trek through China in his olive green train, travelling 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles).&nbsp;

Trump headed home, and Kim will stay on in Hanoi for a state visit.

The US leader placed calls from Air Force One to the leaders of US allies Japan and South Korea to discuss the summit, Sanders said.&nbsp;

Seoul said that Trump "expressed regret" to President Moon Jae-in, who helped arrange the summits, over not striking a deal with Kim.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longstanding hawk on North Korea, told reporters that he "fully supports President Trump's decision to make no easy compromise".

In China, North Korea's primary ally, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang voiced understanding, saying that "solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight"

'Rocket man'

As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie in Vietnam -- a far cry from 2017, when Trump was mocking Kim as "rocket man" and threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests.

The two leaders, nearly 40 years apart in age, appeared to share jokes in front of reporters and indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel.

Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Trump's failure to clinch a deal paradoxically brought him praise within his Republican Party -- some members had privately fretted that he was too eager to seal a historic accord.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Trump "should be commended for his personal commitment to persuading Kim Jong Un to pursue a different path -- and for walking away when it became clear North Korea was not ready to commit enough to denuclearisation."&nbsp;

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again.

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again. After weeks of building expectations and with a signing ceremony ready to go, President Donald Trump abruptly ended his second-ever meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and declared a deadlock. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters. "Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before flying back to Washington. In an exceptionally rare meeting with reporters, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho summoned the press in Hanoi at midnight and denied the White House account that Pyongyang was only seeking a complete deal. North Korea had offered to "permanently and completely dismantle all the nuclear production facilities" at its main complex in Yongbyon if the US dropped sanctions "that hamper the civilian economy and the livelihood of our people", Ri said. He warned that the North's stance was "invariable" and that its offer will "never change". But North Korean state media -- which less than two years ago was branding Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" -- offered a more conciliatory take, saying the summit had been "productive". Kim and Trump "agreed to continue having productive talks to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of US-North Korea relations", the Korean Central News Agency said. The North Koreans appeared to be thinking through their response to the often unpredictable Trump, who insisted that he could obtain a better deal. "I'd much rather do it right than do it fast," Trump told reporters, reaffirming his "close relationship" with Kim. "There's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will." Trump also said he hoped to see Kim again soon but offered no details. 'It will take a little while' The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of hopes that the meeting would build on the leaders' summit in Singapore in June, which marked a historic first but resulted only in a vague commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". Progress subsequently stalled, with the two sides disagreeing on what that means. The US president has since frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point tweeting there was "AWESOME" potential. But it was not enough. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who accompanied Trump, said both sides "need to regroup" before agreeing to another meeting, adding: "My sense is it will take a little while." Pompeo however also said "there's still a basis for believing that we can move forward". Beyond the sub-par summit result, Trump came under fire at home for saying that Kim "didn't know" about the torture of an American college student jailed in the North. Otto Warmbier, who was arrested for allegedly taking down a poster, returned home in 2017 in a coma and died soon afterward, with a US judge ruling that the 22-year-old had died from torture. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought there was "something wrong" with a US president choosing to believe "thugs" such as Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the US intelligence community. 'Major failure' With a table already prepared for a working lunch and signing ceremony, Trump moved up his final news conference by two hours as he and Kim left without any accord. "This is a major failure," tweeted Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund peace foundation, saying it showed the limits of top-level summitry with "not enough time or staff" to work out a deal. Trump flew around the world for the meeting and Kim undertook a mammoth two-and-a-half-day trek through China in his olive green train, travelling 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles). Trump headed home, and Kim will stay on in Hanoi for a state visit. The US leader placed calls from Air Force One to the leaders of US allies Japan and South Korea to discuss the summit, Sanders said. Seoul said that Trump "expressed regret" to President Moon Jae-in, who helped arrange the summits, over not striking a deal with Kim. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longstanding hawk on North Korea, told reporters that he "fully supports President Trump's decision to make no easy compromise". In China, North Korea's primary ally, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang voiced understanding, saying that "solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight" 'Rocket man' As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie in Vietnam -- a far cry from 2017, when Trump was mocking Kim as "rocket man" and threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests. The two leaders, nearly 40 years apart in age, appeared to share jokes in front of reporters and indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel. Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Trump's failure to clinch a deal paradoxically brought him praise within his Republican Party -- some members had privately fretted that he was too eager to seal a historic accord. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Trump "should be commended for his personal commitment to persuading Kim Jong Un to pursue a different path -- and for walking away when it became clear North Korea was not ready to commit enough to denuclearisation."

Trump, Kim Jong-un agree to continue having productive talks on North Korea's denuclearisation

The nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi ended without an agreement Thursday, the White House said after the two leaders cut short their discussions.

They had "very good and constructive meetings" and "discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and economic driven concepts", White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

But she went on: "No agreement was reached at this time," adding that their "respective teams look forward to meeting in the future,"

No joint communique was issued, despite high expectations beforehand for progress.

In the original White House programme, a &nbsp;"Joint Agreement Signing Ceremony" was scheduled as well as a working lunch for the two leaders.&nbsp;

In the event, both men left the summit venue without a public signing ceremony and Trump moved up his news conference by two hours, sparking doubts about the progress made at the summit.

The Hanoi summit was supposed to build on their initial historic meeting at Singapore that critics said was more style over substance.

In Hanoi, the smiles and bonhomie remained as Trump touted the "special relationship" between the two but concrete statements were vague.

From the outset, Trump had appeared to downplay expectations of an immediate breakthrough in nuclear talks, saying he was in "no rush" to clinch a rapid deal and was content if a pause in missile testing continued.

He frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point saying there was "AWESOME" potential.

As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie appeared to share jokes in front of reporters.

Looking relaxed but appearing to say little, they indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel, a colonial-era building that has played host to stars ranging from Charlie Chaplin to Brad Pitt.

It echoed a garden walkabout in Singapore, where the two men bonded over Trump's hulking car -- the "Beast" -- with the US president allowing the younger man a glimpse inside.

'Rocket man'

It was a far cry from the height of missile-testing tensions in 2017 when Trump slammed Kim as "rocket man" and the younger man branded the American president a "mentally deranged US dotard".

In apparently unprecedented scenes, Kim answered unscripted questions from foreign reporters, saying that he would welcome the establishment of a US liaison office in Pyongyang, which would be a step on the way to diplomatic normalisation.

The Pyongyang strongman is looking for relief from sanctions imposed on the North because of its weapons programmes, which saw tensions soar in 2017 before a wave of detente.

He said there were "people who hold a sceptical view of our meeting" but pledged to seek "great, ultimately good results".

"I think watching us have a great time will be like watching a scene from a fantasy movie," he added.

Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

There were also hopes Kim could pledge to destroy North Korea's decades-old Yongbyon nuclear complex, which has long been at the heart of Pyongyang's atomic development but remains shrouded in secrecy -- and North Korea has promised to mothball it twice before.

A patent distraction from the summit was a scandal back home in Washington with Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen calling him a "racist" and a "conman" during a congressional hearing.

The president already showed he had the testimony at the back of his mind when he tweeted about it before his first meeting with Kim, saying Cohen -- who has been sentenced to three years in jail -- was "lying in order to reduce his prison time".

The nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi ended without an agreement Thursday, the White House said after the two leaders cut short their discussions.

The nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi ended without an agreement Thursday, the White House said after the two leaders cut short their discussions. They had "very good and constructive meetings" and "discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and economic driven concepts", White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. But she went on: "No agreement was reached at this time," adding that their "respective teams look forward to meeting in the future," No joint communique was issued, despite high expectations beforehand for progress. In the original White House programme, a "Joint Agreement Signing Ceremony" was scheduled as well as a working lunch for the two leaders. In the event, both men left the summit venue without a public signing ceremony and Trump moved up his news conference by two hours, sparking doubts about the progress made at the summit. The Hanoi summit was supposed to build on their initial historic meeting at Singapore that critics said was more style over substance. In Hanoi, the smiles and bonhomie remained as Trump touted the "special relationship" between the two but concrete statements were vague. From the outset, Trump had appeared to downplay expectations of an immediate breakthrough in nuclear talks, saying he was in "no rush" to clinch a rapid deal and was content if a pause in missile testing continued. He frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point saying there was "AWESOME" potential. As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie appeared to share jokes in front of reporters. Looking relaxed but appearing to say little, they indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel, a colonial-era building that has played host to stars ranging from Charlie Chaplin to Brad Pitt. It echoed a garden walkabout in Singapore, where the two men bonded over Trump's hulking car -- the "Beast" -- with the US president allowing the younger man a glimpse inside. 'Rocket man' It was a far cry from the height of missile-testing tensions in 2017 when Trump slammed Kim as "rocket man" and the younger man branded the American president a "mentally deranged US dotard". In apparently unprecedented scenes, Kim answered unscripted questions from foreign reporters, saying that he would welcome the establishment of a US liaison office in Pyongyang, which would be a step on the way to diplomatic normalisation. The Pyongyang strongman is looking for relief from sanctions imposed on the North because of its weapons programmes, which saw tensions soar in 2017 before a wave of detente. He said there were "people who hold a sceptical view of our meeting" but pledged to seek "great, ultimately good results". "I think watching us have a great time will be like watching a scene from a fantasy movie," he added. Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. There were also hopes Kim could pledge to destroy North Korea's decades-old Yongbyon nuclear complex, which has long been at the heart of Pyongyang's atomic development but remains shrouded in secrecy -- and North Korea has promised to mothball it twice before. A patent distraction from the summit was a scandal back home in Washington with Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen calling him a "racist" and a "conman" during a congressional hearing. The president already showed he had the testimony at the back of his mind when he tweeted about it before his first meeting with Kim, saying Cohen -- who has been sentenced to three years in jail -- was "lying in order to reduce his prison time".

'No agreement was reached' at Trump, Kim summit: White House

North Korea's foreign minister&nbsp;Ri Yong Ho said that Pyongyang made a "realistic proposal" <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">during Kim Jong-un's summit </a>with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Yonhap news agency reported.

In a highly unusual late-night statement at the North Korean delegation's hotel, Ri Yong Ho added Pyongyang was seeking partial sanctions relief, the South Korean agency reported, denying Trump's assertion it wanted them all lifted.

North Korea offered to close Yongbyon nuclear plant for partial sanctions relief, the foreign minister said.

The US-North Korea nuclear summit in Hanoi ended abruptly without a deal on Thursday, with President Donald Trump saying he had decided to "walk" in the face of Kim Jong Un's demands to drop sanctions.

The much-anticipated second meeting between the two leaders was supposed to build on their historic first summit in Singapore, but they failed to sign a joint statement as initially scheduled and the talks ended in deadlock.

"Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters.

"Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before leaving Vietnam aboard Air Force One to head back to Washington. &nbsp;

&nbsp;Trump noted Kim had vowed not to resume nuclear or ballistic missile testing -- something he previously identified as a yardstick for success -- and reiterated their "close relationship".

"We just like each other... there's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will," he said.

North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said that Pyongyang made a "realistic proposal" during Kim Jong-un's summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said that Pyongyang made a "realistic proposal" during Kim Jong-un's summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Yonhap news agency reported. In a highly unusual late-night statement at the North Korean delegation's hotel, Ri Yong Ho added Pyongyang was seeking partial sanctions relief, the South Korean agency reported, denying Trump's assertion it wanted them all lifted. North Korea offered to close Yongbyon nuclear plant for partial sanctions relief, the foreign minister said. The US-North Korea nuclear summit in Hanoi ended abruptly without a deal on Thursday, with President Donald Trump saying he had decided to "walk" in the face of Kim Jong Un's demands to drop sanctions. The much-anticipated second meeting between the two leaders was supposed to build on their historic first summit in Singapore, but they failed to sign a joint statement as initially scheduled and the talks ended in deadlock. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters. "Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before leaving Vietnam aboard Air Force One to head back to Washington. Trump noted Kim had vowed not to resume nuclear or ballistic missile testing -- something he previously identified as a yardstick for success -- and reiterated their "close relationship". "We just like each other... there's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will," he said.

North Korea offered to close Yongbyon nuclear plant for partial sanctions relief during Trump-Kim summit: Foreign minister

&nbsp;Vietnam, which from Wednesday hosts a summit between the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">United States and North Korea</a>, is an ideal meeting point for the two sides due to its geographical location and its ties with both countries, but also for its economic model and experience in reunifying a divided country.

The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the Vietnamese capital is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

The first point in favour of Hanoi has been its location, which is not too far from North Korea, helping Kim circumvent logistical limitations on his movement.

Kim covered the 4,500 kilometres (2,796 miles) separating Pyongyang and the China-Vietnam border by train during a journey that took three days.

"Hanoi is convenient for Kim and he has been able to make the journey by train," Trung Nguyen, director of the Center for International Studies in Ho Chi Minh City, told EFE.

The analyst stressed that Hanoi's proximity to the Chinese border - from where Kim drove the last leg - has been one of the factors in selecting the capital over the coastal city of Da Nang, 750 kilometres to the south, which would have made road transport difficult.

"Vietnam had even wanted to host the Singapore summit. Earlier it did not have the confidence for these events, but now it shows that it is capable of doing so as it did with APEC in 2017 in Da Nang," he added.

Like Singapore, which hosted the first summit between the two leaders on Jun. 12 last year, Vietnam met the indispensable requisite of having diplomatic ties with both countries.

It also has the distinctive feature of not having had diplomatic relations with the US for two decades following the conclusion of the US-Vietnam war in 1975 before amending ties, which, according to the experts, could offer some leads as to the way forward for Pyongyang and Washington.

Since the resumption of ties in 1995, Vietnam and the US have been steadily increasing economic and trade exchanges, marked by state visits to Hanoi by all the US presidents from Bill Clinton to Trump, who first travelled to the Vietnamese capital in November 2017.

At the same time, Hanoi has also maintained a relationship with Pyongyang, with whom it shares historic ties due to the communist roots of both regimes, and despite enormous political and economic differences.

Since Kim came to power, the friendship between the two nations has taken on a new momentum, after years of complications posed by Vietnam’s closeness with South Korea, one of the biggest investors in the Indochinese country.

"In the past, North Korea and Vietnam had a friendly relationship. Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il-sung exchanged visits in the 1950s, but North Korea did not approve of closeness towards South Korea, which has many investments in the country, and this led to a freezing of ties," said Trung Nguyen.

One of the reasons for the increasing closeness between Pyongyang and Hanoi could be the former's supposed interest in the Vietnamese economic model, which in the 1980s began a transition from orthodox communism to the current market economy set-up supervised by the US and with the Communist Party maintaining its hegemony.

This interest has increased speculation of possible visits by Kim to industrial complexes near Hanoi during his stay in the country.

Aside from the economic transition, which has helped Vietnam become one of the most thriving economies in Southeast Asia, the country's experience in reunifying North and South Vietnam after the end of the war in 1975 could also prove valuable.

In 2016, then-South Korean ambassador to Vietnam, Jeon Dae-ju, said at a forum on peace in Hanoi that the Indochinese country was a historic model for its efforts to reunify its people.

"Kim seems to have interest in Vietnam as an economic model, but also, from my interactions with South Korean diplomats, sees Vietnam as a possible model for the reunification of the two Koreas," said Trung Nguyen.

The country was separated into North Vietnam and South Vietnam in 1956 following the Geneva Agreements, and they reunified in 1975 after the war. North Korea and South Korea have been separated since the end of World War II in 1945.

Vietnam, which from Wednesday hosts a summit between the United States and North Korea, is an ideal meeting point for the two sides due to its geographical location and its ties with both countries, but also for its economic model and experience in reunifying a divided country.

Vietnam, which from Wednesday hosts a summit between the United States and North Korea, is an ideal meeting point for the two sides due to its geographical location and its ties with both countries, but also for its economic model and experience in reunifying a divided country. The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the Vietnamese capital is scheduled to conclude on Thursday. The first point in favour of Hanoi has been its location, which is not too far from North Korea, helping Kim circumvent logistical limitations on his movement. Kim covered the 4,500 kilometres (2,796 miles) separating Pyongyang and the China-Vietnam border by train during a journey that took three days. "Hanoi is convenient for Kim and he has been able to make the journey by train," Trung Nguyen, director of the Center for International Studies in Ho Chi Minh City, told EFE. The analyst stressed that Hanoi's proximity to the Chinese border - from where Kim drove the last leg - has been one of the factors in selecting the capital over the coastal city of Da Nang, 750 kilometres to the south, which would have made road transport difficult. "Vietnam had even wanted to host the Singapore summit. Earlier it did not have the confidence for these events, but now it shows that it is capable of doing so as it did with APEC in 2017 in Da Nang," he added. Like Singapore, which hosted the first summit between the two leaders on Jun. 12 last year, Vietnam met the indispensable requisite of having diplomatic ties with both countries. It also has the distinctive feature of not having had diplomatic relations with the US for two decades following the conclusion of the US-Vietnam war in 1975 before amending ties, which, according to the experts, could offer some leads as to the way forward for Pyongyang and Washington. Since the resumption of ties in 1995, Vietnam and the US have been steadily increasing economic and trade exchanges, marked by state visits to Hanoi by all the US presidents from Bill Clinton to Trump, who first travelled to the Vietnamese capital in November 2017. At the same time, Hanoi has also maintained a relationship with Pyongyang, with whom it shares historic ties due to the communist roots of both regimes, and despite enormous political and economic differences. Since Kim came to power, the friendship between the two nations has taken on a new momentum, after years of complications posed by Vietnam’s closeness with South Korea, one of the biggest investors in the Indochinese country. "In the past, North Korea and Vietnam had a friendly relationship. Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il-sung exchanged visits in the 1950s, but North Korea did not approve of closeness towards South Korea, which has many investments in the country, and this led to a freezing of ties," said Trung Nguyen. One of the reasons for the increasing closeness between Pyongyang and Hanoi could be the former's supposed interest in the Vietnamese economic model, which in the 1980s began a transition from orthodox communism to the current market economy set-up supervised by the US and with the Communist Party maintaining its hegemony. This interest has increased speculation of possible visits by Kim to industrial complexes near Hanoi during his stay in the country. Aside from the economic transition, which has helped Vietnam become one of the most thriving economies in Southeast Asia, the country's experience in reunifying North and South Vietnam after the end of the war in 1975 could also prove valuable. In 2016, then-South Korean ambassador to Vietnam, Jeon Dae-ju, said at a forum on peace in Hanoi that the Indochinese country was a historic model for its efforts to reunify its people. "Kim seems to have interest in Vietnam as an economic model, but also, from my interactions with South Korean diplomats, sees Vietnam as a possible model for the reunification of the two Koreas," said Trung Nguyen. The country was separated into North Vietnam and South Vietnam in 1956 following the Geneva Agreements, and they reunified in 1975 after the war. North Korea and South Korea have been separated since the end of World War II in 1945.

Vietnam much more than just a meeting point for Trump, Kim

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-agreement-was-reached-at-trump-kim-summit-white-house-200203">failed to reach an agreement</a> due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months.

"Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, but we couldn't do that ... we had to walk away from it," Trump told reporters after summit talks were cut short.

The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions on North Korea when the reclusive state undertook a series of nuclear and missile tests in 2017, cutting off its main sources hard cash.

Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels.

Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office.

Trump said Cohen "lied a lot" during Congressional testimony in Washington on Wednesday.

While Trump had said he was in "no rush" to strike a deal with North Korea and wanted to do the right deal with Kim, the White House had been confident enough to schedule a now cancelled "joint agreement signing ceremony" at the conclusion of talks.

"You always have to be prepared to walk," Trump said, describing the two days of talks as very productive. "We had papers ready to be signed, it just wasn't appropriate."

Kicking off their second day in Hanoi earlier on Thursday, Trump again stressed the talks aimed at tackling North Korea's nuclear threat should not be rushed. He said he would be happy as long as North Korea conducted no more nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

North Korea has conducted no nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests since late 2017.

Trump said Kim had promised him there would be no more nuclear or rocket tests.

Trump said he and Kim had discussed dismantling North Korea's main nuclear facility at Yongbyon, which Kim was willing to do, but he had wanted sanctions relief.

News of the summit failure sent South Korea's currency lower and knocked regional stock markets. South Korea's Kospi index closed 1.8 per cent lower, marking the biggest one-day percentage loss since Oct 2018.

Denuclearisation pledge

Earlier Kim and Trump, seated across from each other at a conference table, appeared confident of progress.

“If I’m not willing to do that, I won’t be here right now,” Kim told reporters through an interpreter when asked if he was ready to give up his nuclear weapons.

Trump, responding to that, said: "That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard.”

Kim did not elaborate on what "denuclearisation" would entail but asked if he was ready to take concrete steps, Kim said they had just been talking about that.

While the United States is demanding North Korea give up all of its nuclear and missile programmes, the North wants to see the removal of a US nuclear umbrella for its Asian allies such as South Korea and Japan.

The two leaders' first summit, in Singapore in June, the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader, produced a vague statement in which Kim pledged to work toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

But there has been little progress since.

Earlier Kim, asked by a reporter if he was confident about a deal, said, through an interpreter:

"It's too early to tell, but I wouldn't say I'm pessimistic. For what I feel right now, I do have a feeling that good results will come out," he said, in what was believed to be his first ever response to a foreign journalist.

"There must be people who watch us having a wonderful time, like a scene from a fantasy movie. We have so far made lots of efforts, and it's time to show them," Kim said.

Trump reiterated North Korea's potential, if a deal can be done, saying the isolated country could be an "economic powerhouse".

Trump said late last year he and Kim "fell in love", but there have been doubts about whether the bonhomie could move them beyond summit pageantry to substantive progress on eliminating a North Korean nuclear arsenal that threatens the United States.

While Trump indicated a more flexible stance in the run-up to Hanoi, critics warned that he risked squandering vital leverage over North Korea if he gave away too much, too quickly.

US intelligence officials have said there is no sign North Korea would eve give up its entire arsenal of nuclear weapons, which Kim's ruling family sees as vital to its survival.

<ul>
</ul>

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions. Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months. "Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, but we couldn't do that ... we had to walk away from it," Trump told reporters after summit talks were cut short. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions on North Korea when the reclusive state undertook a series of nuclear and missile tests in 2017, cutting off its main sources hard cash. Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels. Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office. Trump said Cohen "lied a lot" during Congressional testimony in Washington on Wednesday. While Trump had said he was in "no rush" to strike a deal with North Korea and wanted to do the right deal with Kim, the White House had been confident enough to schedule a now cancelled "joint agreement signing ceremony" at the conclusion of talks. "You always have to be prepared to walk," Trump said, describing the two days of talks as very productive. "We had papers ready to be signed, it just wasn't appropriate." Kicking off their second day in Hanoi earlier on Thursday, Trump again stressed the talks aimed at tackling North Korea's nuclear threat should not be rushed. He said he would be happy as long as North Korea conducted no more nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests. North Korea has conducted no nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests since late 2017. Trump said Kim had promised him there would be no more nuclear or rocket tests. Trump said he and Kim had discussed dismantling North Korea's main nuclear facility at Yongbyon, which Kim was willing to do, but he had wanted sanctions relief. News of the summit failure sent South Korea's currency lower and knocked regional stock markets. South Korea's Kospi index closed 1.8 per cent lower, marking the biggest one-day percentage loss since Oct 2018. Denuclearisation pledge Earlier Kim and Trump, seated across from each other at a conference table, appeared confident of progress. “If I’m not willing to do that, I won’t be here right now,” Kim told reporters through an interpreter when asked if he was ready to give up his nuclear weapons. Trump, responding to that, said: "That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard.” Kim did not elaborate on what "denuclearisation" would entail but asked if he was ready to take concrete steps, Kim said they had just been talking about that. While the United States is demanding North Korea give up all of its nuclear and missile programmes, the North wants to see the removal of a US nuclear umbrella for its Asian allies such as South Korea and Japan. The two leaders' first summit, in Singapore in June, the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader, produced a vague statement in which Kim pledged to work toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. But there has been little progress since. Earlier Kim, asked by a reporter if he was confident about a deal, said, through an interpreter: "It's too early to tell, but I wouldn't say I'm pessimistic. For what I feel right now, I do have a feeling that good results will come out," he said, in what was believed to be his first ever response to a foreign journalist. "There must be people who watch us having a wonderful time, like a scene from a fantasy movie. We have so far made lots of efforts, and it's time to show them," Kim said. Trump reiterated North Korea's potential, if a deal can be done, saying the isolated country could be an "economic powerhouse". Trump said late last year he and Kim "fell in love", but there have been doubts about whether the bonhomie could move them beyond summit pageantry to substantive progress on eliminating a North Korean nuclear arsenal that threatens the United States. While Trump indicated a more flexible stance in the run-up to Hanoi, critics warned that he risked squandering vital leverage over North Korea if he gave away too much, too quickly. US intelligence officials have said there is no sign North Korea would eve give up its entire arsenal of nuclear weapons, which Kim's ruling family sees as vital to its survival.

Trump says deal with Kim thwarted by North Korean sanction demands

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-kim-trump-arrives-in-hanoi-for-summit-talks-199903">US President Donald Trump</a> met Vietnam's president, Nguyen Phu Trong, in Hanoi on Wednesday, hours before Trump was due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their second summit.

Trump and Trong, who is also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, met at the grand, colonial-era presidential palace.&nbsp;

Trump was later due to have lunch with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

On Wednesday evening, Trump is scheduled to meet Kim at the city's Metropole hotel, eight months after their first summit in Singapore, to discuss efforts to get North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme.

US President Donald Trump met Vietnam's president, Nguyen Phu Trong, in Hanoi on Wednesday, hours before Trump was due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their second summit.

US President Donald Trump met Vietnam's president, Nguyen Phu Trong, in Hanoi on Wednesday, hours before Trump was due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their second summit. Trump and Trong, who is also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, met at the grand, colonial-era presidential palace. Trump was later due to have lunch with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On Wednesday evening, Trump is scheduled to meet Kim at the city's Metropole hotel, eight months after their first summit in Singapore, to discuss efforts to get North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump meets Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong before second North Korea summit

US President Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un opened the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hails-north-koreas-awesome-potential-ahead-of-talks-with-kim-200047"> second summit </a>in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Wednesday.

Kim and Trump shook hands and smiled briefly in front of a row of their countries' flags at the Metropole hotel in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

Trump told reporters he thought the talks would be very successful, and asked if he was "walking back" on denuclearisation, said "no".

"I am certain that an outcome will be achieved this time that will be welcomed by all people," Kim told Trump. "I will do my best to make that happen."

Trump had earlier met Kim in Singapore in June last year as the North Korean leader promised to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, however, no real progress was reported leading several experts to claim that North Korea a was stalling.

In the run-up to this <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/whats-at-stake-at-the-hanoi-summit-between-trump-and-kim-200065">summit</a>, Trump has indicated a more flexible stance, saying he was in no rush to secure North Korea's denuclearisation. He repeated that on Wednesday, saying while some people believed the talks should be moving more quickly, he was satisfied.

Trump has held out the prospect of easing sanctions if North Korea does something "meaningful".

The two leaders are scheduled to hold a 20-minute, one-on-one chat followed by a dinner with aides.

Trump will be accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Kim will be joined by his top envoy, Kim Yong Chol, and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho.

US President Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un opened the second summit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Wednesday. Kim and Trump shook hands and smiled briefly in front of a row of their countries' flags at the Metropole hotel in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

US President Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un opened the second summit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Wednesday. Kim and Trump shook hands and smiled briefly in front of a row of their countries' flags at the Metropole hotel in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Trump told reporters he thought the talks would be very successful, and asked if he was "walking back" on denuclearisation, said "no". "I am certain that an outcome will be achieved this time that will be welcomed by all people," Kim told Trump. "I will do my best to make that happen." Trump had earlier met Kim in Singapore in June last year as the North Korean leader promised to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, however, no real progress was reported leading several experts to claim that North Korea a was stalling. In the run-up to this summit, Trump has indicated a more flexible stance, saying he was in no rush to secure North Korea's denuclearisation. He repeated that on Wednesday, saying while some people believed the talks should be moving more quickly, he was satisfied. Trump has held out the prospect of easing sanctions if North Korea does something "meaningful". The two leaders are scheduled to hold a 20-minute, one-on-one chat followed by a dinner with aides. Trump will be accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Kim will be joined by his top envoy, Kim Yong Chol, and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho.

Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi as second summit begins

US President Donald Trump landed in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hanoi-summit-vietnam-train-station-on-lockdown-ahead-of-kims-arrival-199606">Hanoi on Tuesday</a> for two days of talks to try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong-un&nbsp;to give up his nuclear arsenal.

Trump arrived on Air Force One after flying half way around the world from Washington, while Kim arrived earlier, following a two-and-a-half-day train journey from Pyongyang. They were due to have dinner Wednesday and continue talks on Thursday.

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Just arrived in Vietnam. Thank you to all of the people for the great reception in Hanoi. Tremendous crowds, and so much love!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1100412227662708737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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....This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1100211499350450176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, Kim had boarded his trademark olive-green train in Pyongyang on Saturday and its armoured carriages were later spotted crossing a bridge into China.

Trump and Kim's first meeting had ended with a vaguely worded statement to work towards the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, and both sides are under pressure to walk away from this week's summit with concrete deliverables.

After an initial historic meeting in Singapore in June that produced only a vague statement about denuclearisation, analysts say the second date must deliver more in the way of tangible progress.&nbsp;

The summit itself is shrouded in secrecy and there was still no official word even on the venue when Trump touched down in Air Force One late Tuesday. The two leaders were expected to have an informal dinner on Wednesday before more formal talks on Thursday.

Trump made no comment to reporters on his aircraft but had previously tweeted his hopes for a "very productive" meeting, reiterating that North Korea could enjoy economic riches if it gave up its nuclear weapons.&nbsp;

"With complete Denuclearization, North Korea will rapidly become an Economic Powerhouse," tweeted Trump. "Without it, just more of the same."

"Chairman Kim will make a wise decision!" 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump landed in Hanoi on Tuesday for two days of talks to try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to give up his nuclear arsenal. Trump arrived on Air Force One after flying half way around the world from Washington, while Kim arrived earlier, following a two-and-a-half-day train journey from Pyongyang.

US President Donald Trump landed in Hanoi on Tuesday for two days of talks to try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to give up his nuclear arsenal. Trump arrived on Air Force One after flying half way around the world from Washington, while Kim arrived earlier, following a two-and-a-half-day train journey from Pyongyang. They were due to have dinner Wednesday and continue talks on Thursday. Just arrived in Vietnam. Thank you to all of the people for the great reception in Hanoi. Tremendous crowds, and so much love! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019 × ....This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019 × Earlier, Kim had boarded his trademark olive-green train in Pyongyang on Saturday and its armoured carriages were later spotted crossing a bridge into China. Trump and Kim's first meeting had ended with a vaguely worded statement to work towards the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, and both sides are under pressure to walk away from this week's summit with concrete deliverables. After an initial historic meeting in Singapore in June that produced only a vague statement about denuclearisation, analysts say the second date must deliver more in the way of tangible progress. The summit itself is shrouded in secrecy and there was still no official word even on the venue when Trump touched down in Air Force One late Tuesday. The two leaders were expected to have an informal dinner on Wednesday before more formal talks on Thursday. Trump made no comment to reporters on his aircraft but had previously tweeted his hopes for a "very productive" meeting, reiterating that North Korea could enjoy economic riches if it gave up its nuclear weapons. "With complete Denuclearization, North Korea will rapidly become an Economic Powerhouse," tweeted Trump. "Without it, just more of the same." "Chairman Kim will make a wise decision!"

After Kim, Trump arrives in Hanoi for summit talks

The train station on the Vietnam-China border where <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-sets-off-by-train-to-vietnam-for-summit-with-trump-report-199156">Kim Jong Un is expected to arrive</a> by rail was closed to the public and surrounded by armed guards on Monday, days ahead of the North Korean leader's summit with Donald Trump.

Kim boarded his trademark olive-green train in Pyongyang on Saturday and its armoured carriages were later spotted crossing a bridge into China.

The train apparently bypassed Beijing and is now thought to be chugging south en route to Vietnam, which is hastily preparing for the second meeting between Kim and US President Trump after their historic first summit in Singapore last June.

Sources in Vietnam said Kim could arrive at the Dong Dang border station in the early hours of Tuesday following his epic 4,000 kilometres, two-and-a-half-day journey.

His motorcade is likely to drive from Dong Dang to Hanoi and in an unprecedented move, the entire 170-kilometre stretch of road will be completely closed from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday.

An AFP reporter at the scene saw armed guards stationed at Dong Dang station on Monday morning, while workers tended to the rail tracks.

"(The station) is closed, no public access. We don't know when it's closed until but around tomorrow," a guard told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Kim's route through China remained a tightly guarded secret.

Ifeng, the online Chinese-language news website of Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, posted a video on its Twitter-like Weibo account showing what it described as Kim's special train passing through Wuhan in the central province of Hubei at 7:15 am local time on Monday.

Vietnam said on Saturday that Kim would make an official visit to the country "in the coming days", but did not say whether that would be before or after the Trump-Kim summit on February 27-28.

Two sources told AFP on Monday that Kim would stay at a modern hotel in downtown Hanoi, about one kilometre (mile) from the colonial-era Government Guesthouse where the summit could take place.

The Melia hotel boasts of its "elegant interiors with gorgeous views of the city" and is connected to Hanoi's only Rolls-Royce dealership catering to the city's growing class of super-rich.

A staff member told AFP this week the hotel was fully booked until early March, but would not be drawn on any VIP guests.

The White House press centre will be set up at the same hotel, and North Korean security personnel were seen entering the building on Sunday.

During his trip, Kim is also expected to visit industrial zones in Vietnam's provinces of Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh, which is home to a Samsung factory.

Trump and Kim's first meeting ended with a vaguely worded statement to work towards the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, and both sides are under pressure to walk away from this week's summit with concrete deliverables.

The train station on the Vietnam-China border where Kim Jong Un is expected to arrive by rail was closed to the public and surrounded by armed guards on Monday, days ahead of the North Korean leader's summit with Donald Trump.

The train station on the Vietnam-China border where Kim Jong Un is expected to arrive by rail was closed to the public and surrounded by armed guards on Monday, days ahead of the North Korean leader's summit with Donald Trump. Kim boarded his trademark olive-green train in Pyongyang on Saturday and its armoured carriages were later spotted crossing a bridge into China. The train apparently bypassed Beijing and is now thought to be chugging south en route to Vietnam, which is hastily preparing for the second meeting between Kim and US President Trump after their historic first summit in Singapore last June. Sources in Vietnam said Kim could arrive at the Dong Dang border station in the early hours of Tuesday following his epic 4,000 kilometres, two-and-a-half-day journey. His motorcade is likely to drive from Dong Dang to Hanoi and in an unprecedented move, the entire 170-kilometre stretch of road will be completely closed from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday. An AFP reporter at the scene saw armed guards stationed at Dong Dang station on Monday morning, while workers tended to the rail tracks. "(The station) is closed, no public access. We don't know when it's closed until but around tomorrow," a guard told AFP, requesting anonymity. Kim's route through China remained a tightly guarded secret. Ifeng, the online Chinese-language news website of Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, posted a video on its Twitter-like Weibo account showing what it described as Kim's special train passing through Wuhan in the central province of Hubei at 7:15 am local time on Monday. Vietnam said on Saturday that Kim would make an official visit to the country "in the coming days", but did not say whether that would be before or after the Trump-Kim summit on February 27-28. Two sources told AFP on Monday that Kim would stay at a modern hotel in downtown Hanoi, about one kilometre (mile) from the colonial-era Government Guesthouse where the summit could take place. The Melia hotel boasts of its "elegant interiors with gorgeous views of the city" and is connected to Hanoi's only Rolls-Royce dealership catering to the city's growing class of super-rich. A staff member told AFP this week the hotel was fully booked until early March, but would not be drawn on any VIP guests. The White House press centre will be set up at the same hotel, and North Korean security personnel were seen entering the building on Sunday. During his trip, Kim is also expected to visit industrial zones in Vietnam's provinces of Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh, which is home to a Samsung factory. Trump and Kim's first meeting ended with a vaguely worded statement to work towards the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, and both sides are under pressure to walk away from this week's summit with concrete deliverables.

Hanoi summit: Vietnam train station on lockdown ahead of Kim's arrival

Could the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/security-men-and-metal-detectors-vietnam-prepares-for-trump-kim-summit-199466">United States and North Korea</a> reach a historic accord -- or could it all fall to pieces?

As President Donald Trump prepares for a historic second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, observers see a wide array of possible outcomes.

Here are some scenarios that could emerge from the summit, which opens Wednesday in Hanoi:

Complete breakdown considered unlikely&nbsp;

The US point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, and his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol are holding working-level talks in Hanoi to lay the groundwork for the leaders.

A complete collapse of the summit seems "unlikely because Trump and Kim are so invested in the meeting," said Viping Narang, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

But what comes out of the talks is another story. The two leaders' first summit in Singapore ended in a statement that agreed on "complete denuclearization" -- which Pyongyang defines broadly as an end to nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula.

The United States says it is seeking the "verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization of North Korea -- a formulation Pyongyang is sure to resist.

Repeat of Singapore is defeat for Trump

A simple repeat of the Singapore declaration would be widely seen in the United States as a defeat for Trump.

"What would be a failure is another vague statement about intentions with very little concrete action that each side is committed to take," said Jung Pak, a former CIA analyst who is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Narang said that a repeat of Singapore would be the favoured outcome for North Korea, which would face no fresh constraints.

"There's a paradox: for the summit to be useful for the North Koreans, the working-level meetings need to be as vague and drawn-out as possible," Narang said.

"But for the summit to be useful for the US, the working-level meetings have to deliver something concrete."

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if nothing major emerges by the US summer, hawks around Trump such as his national security adviser, John Bolton, could increasingly press to be done with talks and focus on pressure.

Or Trump yields ground&nbsp;

No matter how much Trump's team prepares him, this most untraditional of US presidents could reject expert advice and, as is his wont, go with his gut.

Such a scenario would be seen as a catastrophe by much of the Washington establishment, which has spent decades trying to figure out North Korea.

"A failure would be that the US gives more than it receives," said Abraham Denmark, director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Denmark voiced fear that Trump could declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War -- which closed only with an armistice -- without significant action from Pyongyang.

"Declaring an end to the war is a significant concession and should not be done lightly," he said, fearing an effect on the dynamics between the two Koreas.

One major fear for South Korea and Japan is that Trump reaches a deal that only restricts intercontinental missiles that could hit the United States, while not taking up shorter-range weapons that threaten them.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has repeatedly spoken of the North Korea summit as a way to protect Americans, raising worries in the region.

US hopes for verifiable denuclearization

The best result for the United States would be a step-by-step, verifiable agreement in which the North Koreans commit to ending their nuclear program beyond verbal promises.

North Korean concessions over which the United States could cry victory include the suspension of all the regime's missile and nuclear sites and the destruction of some of them, Denmark said.

For Narang, the destruction of the Yongbyon complex -- North Korea's main nuclear centre -- would mark an important step.

But the key for Washington would be inspections by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency to verify North Korea is getting rid of its nuclear weapons.

In return, Washington could open a liaison office in Pyongyang -- a step toward full diplomatic relations -- or declare an end to the war.

Kim's most urgent goal is the lifting of international sanctions that have held back his hopes of economic development.

The United States has so far insisted that it will not provide aid until denuclearization.

But Biegun recently hinted at early steps, saying, "We didn't say we won't do anything until you do everything."

Could the United States and North Korea reach a historic accord -- or could it all fall to pieces? As President Donald Trump prepares for a historic second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, observers see a wide array of possible outcomes.

Could the United States and North Korea reach a historic accord -- or could it all fall to pieces? As President Donald Trump prepares for a historic second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, observers see a wide array of possible outcomes. Here are some scenarios that could emerge from the summit, which opens Wednesday in Hanoi: Complete breakdown considered unlikely The US point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, and his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol are holding working-level talks in Hanoi to lay the groundwork for the leaders. A complete collapse of the summit seems "unlikely because Trump and Kim are so invested in the meeting," said Viping Narang, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But what comes out of the talks is another story. The two leaders' first summit in Singapore ended in a statement that agreed on "complete denuclearization" -- which Pyongyang defines broadly as an end to nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. The United States says it is seeking the "verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization of North Korea -- a formulation Pyongyang is sure to resist. Repeat of Singapore is defeat for Trump A simple repeat of the Singapore declaration would be widely seen in the United States as a defeat for Trump. "What would be a failure is another vague statement about intentions with very little concrete action that each side is committed to take," said Jung Pak, a former CIA analyst who is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Narang said that a repeat of Singapore would be the favoured outcome for North Korea, which would face no fresh constraints. "There's a paradox: for the summit to be useful for the North Koreans, the working-level meetings need to be as vague and drawn-out as possible," Narang said. "But for the summit to be useful for the US, the working-level meetings have to deliver something concrete." A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if nothing major emerges by the US summer, hawks around Trump such as his national security adviser, John Bolton, could increasingly press to be done with talks and focus on pressure. Or Trump yields ground No matter how much Trump's team prepares him, this most untraditional of US presidents could reject expert advice and, as is his wont, go with his gut. Such a scenario would be seen as a catastrophe by much of the Washington establishment, which has spent decades trying to figure out North Korea. "A failure would be that the US gives more than it receives," said Abraham Denmark, director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Denmark voiced fear that Trump could declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War -- which closed only with an armistice -- without significant action from Pyongyang. "Declaring an end to the war is a significant concession and should not be done lightly," he said, fearing an effect on the dynamics between the two Koreas. One major fear for South Korea and Japan is that Trump reaches a deal that only restricts intercontinental missiles that could hit the United States, while not taking up shorter-range weapons that threaten them. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has repeatedly spoken of the North Korea summit as a way to protect Americans, raising worries in the region. US hopes for verifiable denuclearization The best result for the United States would be a step-by-step, verifiable agreement in which the North Koreans commit to ending their nuclear program beyond verbal promises. North Korean concessions over which the United States could cry victory include the suspension of all the regime's missile and nuclear sites and the destruction of some of them, Denmark said. For Narang, the destruction of the Yongbyon complex -- North Korea's main nuclear centre -- would mark an important step. But the key for Washington would be inspections by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency to verify North Korea is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. In return, Washington could open a liaison office in Pyongyang -- a step toward full diplomatic relations -- or declare an end to the war. Kim's most urgent goal is the lifting of international sanctions that have held back his hopes of economic development. The United States has so far insisted that it will not provide aid until denuclearization. But Biegun recently hinted at early steps, saying, "We didn't say we won't do anything until you do everything."

Nuclear breakthrough or vague promises? Outcomes abound for Trump and Kim

Dozens of North Korean security men with identical haircuts and suits marched off an aircraft at Hanoi airport on Sunday, as Vietnamese soldiers searched through shrubbery outside a posh hotel in the city centre days before a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-warns-us-sceptics-as-kim-heads-for-vietnam-for-summit-with-trump-199370">North Korea-US summit</a>.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump will meet in Hanoi on Wednesday and Thursday, hoping to build on a commitment they made at their first meeting, in Singapore in June, to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear bombs.

They are expected to meet for their second summit in Hanoi's Government Guesthouse, an elegant, colonial-era building in the city centre, or at the nearby Metropole Hotel, sources have told Reuters.

Vietnam has confirmed that Kim will arrive for an official goodwill visit as well as the summit with Trump, but has released no further details regarding the location of meetings.

A Reuters witness saw Vietnamese soldiers in camouflaged fatigues sweeping the area around the Metropole with a metal detector. Its potted plants were thoroughly checked.

Teams of soldiers were also seen busy on nearby rooftops, installing radio devices and equipment under camouflaged webbing.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered that security should be a top priority for the summit, the government said in a post on its website.

The Southeast Asian country is relishing its role as peace maker, seeing it as an opportunity to burnish its international standing and balance it foreign ties.

Vietnam has pushed US and North Korean security services to work closely to prepare for the summit, a senior Vietnamese security official told Reuters.

Media published photographs taken at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport showing a North Korean cargo plane with its loading door open and the security men filing off onto the tarmac.

Some banners proclaiming the summit have gone up along Hanoi's tree-lined streets and some lamp posts are decked with North Korean, Vietnamese and US flags fluttering above a handshake design, but apart from that, for now at least, life goes on as normal.

Motorists have been warned to expect road closures when the leaders are in town.

Security at the train station in the town of Dang Dong, on the Chinese border where Kim is expected arrive by train, has also been stepped up.

Vietnamese soldiers were seen patrolling its streets on Sunday.

Dozens of North Korean security men with identical haircuts and suits marched off an aircraft at Hanoi airport on Sunday, as Vietnamese soldiers searched through shrubbery outside a posh hotel in the city centre days before a North Korea-US summit.

Dozens of North Korean security men with identical haircuts and suits marched off an aircraft at Hanoi airport on Sunday, as Vietnamese soldiers searched through shrubbery outside a posh hotel in the city centre days before a North Korea-US summit. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump will meet in Hanoi on Wednesday and Thursday, hoping to build on a commitment they made at their first meeting, in Singapore in June, to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear bombs. They are expected to meet for their second summit in Hanoi's Government Guesthouse, an elegant, colonial-era building in the city centre, or at the nearby Metropole Hotel, sources have told Reuters. Vietnam has confirmed that Kim will arrive for an official goodwill visit as well as the summit with Trump, but has released no further details regarding the location of meetings. A Reuters witness saw Vietnamese soldiers in camouflaged fatigues sweeping the area around the Metropole with a metal detector. Its potted plants were thoroughly checked. Teams of soldiers were also seen busy on nearby rooftops, installing radio devices and equipment under camouflaged webbing. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered that security should be a top priority for the summit, the government said in a post on its website. The Southeast Asian country is relishing its role as peace maker, seeing it as an opportunity to burnish its international standing and balance it foreign ties. Vietnam has pushed US and North Korean security services to work closely to prepare for the summit, a senior Vietnamese security official told Reuters. Media published photographs taken at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport showing a North Korean cargo plane with its loading door open and the security men filing off onto the tarmac. Some banners proclaiming the summit have gone up along Hanoi's tree-lined streets and some lamp posts are decked with North Korean, Vietnamese and US flags fluttering above a handshake design, but apart from that, for now at least, life goes on as normal. Motorists have been warned to expect road closures when the leaders are in town. Security at the train station in the town of Dang Dong, on the Chinese border where Kim is expected arrive by train, has also been stepped up. Vietnamese soldiers were seen patrolling its streets on Sunday.

Security men and metal detectors: Vietnam prepares for Trump-Kim summit

Their first meeting in Singapore was a blockbuster piece of diplomatic theatre criticised as light on substance.&nbsp;

For the sequel, set in Hanoi this week, US President Donald Trump and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-sets-off-by-train-to-vietnam-for-summit-with-trump-report-199156">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> will have to contend with harder questions.

Here is a look at what was exactly agreed in Singapore last year and what has transpired since then.

What did the Singapore statement say?

The inaugural summit between the leaders of two countries that never signed a peace treaty after the 1950-53 Korean War was brief -- from 9 am to 2 pm.

In a short pronouncement, they pledged to seek a "lasting and stable peace regime", with Kim committing "to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula".

There were no specific details, and disagreement over its interpretation has caused follow-up negotiations to stall.

Even South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in, who seized on last year's Winter Olympics to broker talks between rivals who had been trading personal insults and threats of war, has since described the text as "somewhat vague".

What does Washington say?

In the months since Singapore, Washington has pushed to maintain sanctions against the North until it's "final, fully verified denuclearisation" and has repeatedly referred to "the denuclearisation of North Korea as agreed to by Chairman Kim".

But that is not what the words in the statement say, and throughout the process with Trump Pyongyang has never made a public commitment to give up its weapons, rather than denuclearising the peninsula as a whole.

Diplomats say Washington's phrasing could be a negotiating ploy by the Trump administration, effectively daring Pyongyang to come out and deny it.

At the same time, Trump said last week: "I'm in no rush. There's no testing. As long as there's not testing, I'm in no rush."

What is Pyongyang's view?

The North has condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's insistence on its nuclear disarmament as "gangster-like".

It has long understood the denuclearisation of "the peninsula" as taking in issues such as the US military presence in South Korea and Washington's nuclear umbrella over Seoul, and a lengthy commentary carried by the official KCNA news agency in December urged the US to "study geography".

"When we talk about the Korean Peninsula, it includes the territory of our republic and also the entire region of (South Korea) where the United States has placed its invasive force," it said.

Pyongyang says it has already taken substantive measures by stopping missile and nuclear testing and the time has come for the US to respond with moves of its own, such as lifting sanctions.

And in his New Year's Speech, North Korean leader Kim said Pyongyang is committed to denuclearisation of the peninsula - but only if Washington drops economic sanctions.

Is there a way through?

Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative for North Korea, has stressed that Washington has no intention of easing its US or United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang.

But, he has said, "we are prepared to explore (a) number of other things that could build trust".

Earlier this month he told a Stanford University audience: "I have this perfect outcome moment where the last nuclear weapon leaves North Korea, the sanctions are lifted, the flag goes up in the embassy and the treaty is signed in the same hour.

"Now that's an ideal, I know, and these things are going to move haltingly along different courses."

How do Trump and Kim get on?

In 2017, as missiles flew and North Korean ground shook to the blast of a nuclear test, they called each other "dotard" and "Rocket Man".

But the Singapore meeting began with a one-on-one meeting, with only their translators present.

Trump has since hailed his "great chemistry" with Kim and says he has "gotten to know him &amp; fully understand how capable he is", dangling the prospect of the impoverished, sanctions-hit North becoming a "great Economic Powerhouse" under Kim.

"He wrote me beautiful letters," the US president told a rally in October. "And they're great letters. We fell in love."

Their first meeting in Singapore was a blockbuster piece of diplomatic theatre criticised as light on substance. For the sequel, set in Hanoi this week, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have to contend with harder questions.

Their first meeting in Singapore was a blockbuster piece of diplomatic theatre criticised as light on substance. For the sequel, set in Hanoi this week, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have to contend with harder questions. Here is a look at what was exactly agreed in Singapore last year and what has transpired since then. What did the Singapore statement say? The inaugural summit between the leaders of two countries that never signed a peace treaty after the 1950-53 Korean War was brief -- from 9 am to 2 pm. In a short pronouncement, they pledged to seek a "lasting and stable peace regime", with Kim committing "to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". There were no specific details, and disagreement over its interpretation has caused follow-up negotiations to stall. Even South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in, who seized on last year's Winter Olympics to broker talks between rivals who had been trading personal insults and threats of war, has since described the text as "somewhat vague". What does Washington say? In the months since Singapore, Washington has pushed to maintain sanctions against the North until it's "final, fully verified denuclearisation" and has repeatedly referred to "the denuclearisation of North Korea as agreed to by Chairman Kim". But that is not what the words in the statement say, and throughout the process with Trump Pyongyang has never made a public commitment to give up its weapons, rather than denuclearising the peninsula as a whole. Diplomats say Washington's phrasing could be a negotiating ploy by the Trump administration, effectively daring Pyongyang to come out and deny it. At the same time, Trump said last week: "I'm in no rush. There's no testing. As long as there's not testing, I'm in no rush." What is Pyongyang's view? The North has condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's insistence on its nuclear disarmament as "gangster-like". It has long understood the denuclearisation of "the peninsula" as taking in issues such as the US military presence in South Korea and Washington's nuclear umbrella over Seoul, and a lengthy commentary carried by the official KCNA news agency in December urged the US to "study geography". "When we talk about the Korean Peninsula, it includes the territory of our republic and also the entire region of (South Korea) where the United States has placed its invasive force," it said. Pyongyang says it has already taken substantive measures by stopping missile and nuclear testing and the time has come for the US to respond with moves of its own, such as lifting sanctions. And in his New Year's Speech, North Korean leader Kim said Pyongyang is committed to denuclearisation of the peninsula - but only if Washington drops economic sanctions. Is there a way through? Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative for North Korea, has stressed that Washington has no intention of easing its US or United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang. But, he has said, "we are prepared to explore (a) number of other things that could build trust". Earlier this month he told a Stanford University audience: "I have this perfect outcome moment where the last nuclear weapon leaves North Korea, the sanctions are lifted, the flag goes up in the embassy and the treaty is signed in the same hour. "Now that's an ideal, I know, and these things are going to move haltingly along different courses." How do Trump and Kim get on? In 2017, as missiles flew and North Korean ground shook to the blast of a nuclear test, they called each other "dotard" and "Rocket Man". But the Singapore meeting began with a one-on-one meeting, with only their translators present. Trump has since hailed his "great chemistry" with Kim and says he has "gotten to know him & fully understand how capable he is", dangling the prospect of the impoverished, sanctions-hit North becoming a "great Economic Powerhouse" under Kim. "He wrote me beautiful letters," the US president told a rally in October. "And they're great letters. We fell in love."

Trump-Kim II: The summit, the script, and the sequel

Pyongyang's special representative for the US arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday with a North Korean delegation, an AFP reporter and source confirmed, ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un next week.

Kim Hyok Chol was seen by an AFP reporter walking into a government guesthouse where other North Korean officials in town for pre-summit preparations were staying over the weekend.&nbsp;

He arrived from Beijing, where he spent a night en route from North Korea.&nbsp;

"A team of North Koreans arrived on a flight from Beijing," a source at the airport told AFP, requesting anonymity.&nbsp;

Kim Hyok Chol is expected to meet with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun, who is heading to Hanoi, later in the week to lay the groundwork for talks between Trump and Kim in the Vietnamese capital on February 27-28.&nbsp;

Biegen and Kim Hyok Chol met in Pyongyang earlier this month to hammer out US and North Korean positions on denuclearisation ahead of the much-anticipated meeting.&nbsp;

The summit will be the second face-to-face for Kim and Trump after a summit in Singapore in June that produced a vaguely worded agreement on denuclearisation.

Progress has since stalled, with the two sides disagreeing over what exactly denuclearisation means.&nbsp;

Observers are hoping for more concrete outcomes from the Hanoi summit to avoid it being dismissed as a publicity stunt.&nbsp;

Trump said on Tuesday that while he hoped his next meeting with Kim Jong Un would yield progress, he was also in "no rush" for results.

"I'd like to see ultimately denuclearisation of North Korea," Trump told reporters.

Kim's 'butler'

Vietnam is feverishly preparing for the high-profile event, Trump's second visit to the country and the first for a North Korean leader since Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung travelled to the communist country in 1964.

Speculation is swirling that Kim could travel to Vietnam overland via China by train after a North Korean and a Vietnamese team were seen separately surveying roads and rail tracks near the China border with Vietnam.

Kim travelled by air to the summit in Singapore on a plane lent to him by Beijing, but normally travels by armoured train when he visits China.&nbsp;

Officials have remained tight-lipped on summit details, including the agenda and precise venue, though several teams from both sides are already in Hanoi ahead of the meeting.&nbsp;

Kim Jong Un's de-facto chief of staff Kim Chang Son, dubbed his 'butler', was in Hanoi over the weekend to discuss protocol and security matters with the US team.&nbsp;

He was seen at the government guesthouse and the colonial-era, French-built Metropole hotel, both slated as possible venues for the summit, though officials have so far refused to confirm the precise meeting location. &nbsp;

Alex Wong, US deputy assistant secretary of state for North Korea, arrived in the Vietnamese capital preparing for the summit earlier this week, while Biegen could arrive Thursday.&nbsp;

A State Department deputy spokesman said the US objectives have not changed since the Singapore summit.&nbsp;

"Chairman Kim's commitment to denuclearisation upon which the world is focused right now and... that remains our goal," Robert Palladino told reporters.

Pyongyang's special representative for the US arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday with a North Korean delegation, an AFP reporter and source confirmed, ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un next week.

Pyongyang's special representative for the US arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday with a North Korean delegation, an AFP reporter and source confirmed, ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un next week. Kim Hyok Chol was seen by an AFP reporter walking into a government guesthouse where other North Korean officials in town for pre-summit preparations were staying over the weekend. He arrived from Beijing, where he spent a night en route from North Korea. "A team of North Koreans arrived on a flight from Beijing," a source at the airport told AFP, requesting anonymity. Kim Hyok Chol is expected to meet with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun, who is heading to Hanoi, later in the week to lay the groundwork for talks between Trump and Kim in the Vietnamese capital on February 27-28. Biegen and Kim Hyok Chol met in Pyongyang earlier this month to hammer out US and North Korean positions on denuclearisation ahead of the much-anticipated meeting. The summit will be the second face-to-face for Kim and Trump after a summit in Singapore in June that produced a vaguely worded agreement on denuclearisation. Progress has since stalled, with the two sides disagreeing over what exactly denuclearisation means. Observers are hoping for more concrete outcomes from the Hanoi summit to avoid it being dismissed as a publicity stunt. Trump said on Tuesday that while he hoped his next meeting with Kim Jong Un would yield progress, he was also in "no rush" for results. "I'd like to see ultimately denuclearisation of North Korea," Trump told reporters. Kim's 'butler' Vietnam is feverishly preparing for the high-profile event, Trump's second visit to the country and the first for a North Korean leader since Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung travelled to the communist country in 1964. Speculation is swirling that Kim could travel to Vietnam overland via China by train after a North Korean and a Vietnamese team were seen separately surveying roads and rail tracks near the China border with Vietnam. Kim travelled by air to the summit in Singapore on a plane lent to him by Beijing, but normally travels by armoured train when he visits China. Officials have remained tight-lipped on summit details, including the agenda and precise venue, though several teams from both sides are already in Hanoi ahead of the meeting. Kim Jong Un's de-facto chief of staff Kim Chang Son, dubbed his 'butler', was in Hanoi over the weekend to discuss protocol and security matters with the US team. He was seen at the government guesthouse and the colonial-era, French-built Metropole hotel, both slated as possible venues for the summit, though officials have so far refused to confirm the precise meeting location. Alex Wong, US deputy assistant secretary of state for North Korea, arrived in the Vietnamese capital preparing for the summit earlier this week, while Biegen could arrive Thursday. A State Department deputy spokesman said the US objectives have not changed since the Singapore summit. "Chairman Kim's commitment to denuclearisation upon which the world is focused right now and... that remains our goal," Robert Palladino told reporters.

North Korea's US envoy arrives in Hanoi ahead of Trump-Kim summit: Report

Twelve North Korean officials -- including Kim Jong Un's de-facto chief of staff -- were en-route to Vietnam Friday ahead of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-to-expect-from-the-trump-kim-summit-ii-197109">second scheduled summit </a>between Kim and US President Donald Trump, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

The North Koreans had arrived in Beijing and were expected to board a plane bound for the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, Yonhap said, with the high-stakes meeting now less than two weeks away.

"A group of 12 North Koreans, including Kim Chang Son, were on the boarding list," Yonhap said, citing a source in the capital.

Kim Chang Son was part of the team overseeing protocol in the run-up to the first Trump-Kim summit and Yonhap said the delegation was expected to have discussions with US officials on the logistical preparations for the Hanoi meeting.

The identities of the 11 other officials were not reported.

Pyongyang has yet to provide any official confirmation of the Feb 27-28 summit, which will be the second time the two leaders come together following their June 12 Singapore meeting.

That produced a vaguely-worded document in which Kim pledged to work towards denuclearisation -- with no hard timeline agreed.

In preparation for Hanoi, US envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun was last week in Pyongyang for three days of talks with officials.

Biegun said they had been productive, but more dialogue was needed.

"We have some hard work to do with the DPRK between now and then," Biegun said, adding that he was "confident that if both sides stay committed we can make real progress here".

The US State Department said talks during Biegun's trip explored Trump and Kim's "commitments of complete denuclearization, transforming US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula".

Specifically, discussions on declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could have been on the table, with Biegun last month saying Trump was "ready to end this war".

The three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war, with the US keeping 28,500 troops in the South.

Earlier this week Vietnam's foreign minister Pham Binh Minh visited Pyongyang but no details on their discussions have been announced.

Experts say tangible progress on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons will be needed for the second summit if it is to avoid being dismissed as "reality TV".

The commander of US forces in South Korea said earlier this week that he had seen "little to no verifiable change" in North Korea's military capabilities.

General Robert Abrams, the new head of US Forces Korea, said although the Singapore summit had helped dial down tensions on the Korean peninsula, it had not led to substantive changes.

North Korea, which holds most of the peninsula's mineral resources, was once wealthier than the South, but decades of mismanagement and the demise of its former paymaster, the Soviet Union, have left it deeply impoverished.&nbsp;

In 2017 the UN Security Council banned the North's main exports -- coal and other mineral resources, fisheries and textile products -- to cut off its access to hard currency in response to Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

Trump has said that North Korea will become a "great Economic Powerhouse" under Kim.

Twelve North Korean officials -- including Kim Jong Un's de-facto chief of staff -- were en-route to Vietnam Friday ahead of a second scheduled summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

Twelve North Korean officials -- including Kim Jong Un's de-facto chief of staff -- were en-route to Vietnam Friday ahead of a second scheduled summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said. The North Koreans had arrived in Beijing and were expected to board a plane bound for the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, Yonhap said, with the high-stakes meeting now less than two weeks away. "A group of 12 North Koreans, including Kim Chang Son, were on the boarding list," Yonhap said, citing a source in the capital. Kim Chang Son was part of the team overseeing protocol in the run-up to the first Trump-Kim summit and Yonhap said the delegation was expected to have discussions with US officials on the logistical preparations for the Hanoi meeting. The identities of the 11 other officials were not reported. Pyongyang has yet to provide any official confirmation of the Feb 27-28 summit, which will be the second time the two leaders come together following their June 12 Singapore meeting. That produced a vaguely-worded document in which Kim pledged to work towards denuclearisation -- with no hard timeline agreed. In preparation for Hanoi, US envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun was last week in Pyongyang for three days of talks with officials. Biegun said they had been productive, but more dialogue was needed. "We have some hard work to do with the DPRK between now and then," Biegun said, adding that he was "confident that if both sides stay committed we can make real progress here". The US State Department said talks during Biegun's trip explored Trump and Kim's "commitments of complete denuclearization, transforming US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula". Specifically, discussions on declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could have been on the table, with Biegun last month saying Trump was "ready to end this war". The three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war, with the US keeping 28,500 troops in the South. Earlier this week Vietnam's foreign minister Pham Binh Minh visited Pyongyang but no details on their discussions have been announced. Experts say tangible progress on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons will be needed for the second summit if it is to avoid being dismissed as "reality TV". The commander of US forces in South Korea said earlier this week that he had seen "little to no verifiable change" in North Korea's military capabilities. General Robert Abrams, the new head of US Forces Korea, said although the Singapore summit had helped dial down tensions on the Korean peninsula, it had not led to substantive changes. North Korea, which holds most of the peninsula's mineral resources, was once wealthier than the South, but decades of mismanagement and the demise of its former paymaster, the Soviet Union, have left it deeply impoverished. In 2017 the UN Security Council banned the North's main exports -- coal and other mineral resources, fisheries and textile products -- to cut off its access to hard currency in response to Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Trump has said that North Korea will become a "great Economic Powerhouse" under Kim.

North Korea officials en-route to Vietnam ahead of Trump-Kim summit

While South Korea has every reason to be cheerful about the upcoming summit of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam, hoping for a peaceful nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but with North Korean not doing enough to move towards denuclearisation, the hope appears to be impractical.&nbsp;

Despite doing all the hard work for getting them together at Singapore for the first summit, South Korea would have realised, by now, that nothing worthwhile progressed beyond optics of a successful breakthrough.&nbsp;

President Trump in a speech, earlier this month, had announced the summit with the hope that North Korea would comply with the Singapore understanding by North Korea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier reiterated that sanctions will remain until Pyongyang carries out the complete verifiable denuclearisation commitments made in Singapore.&nbsp;

The US is unlikely to settle down unless the threat to its mainland is eliminated. President Trump is also carrying the baggage of promise to do something, which his predecessors could not do with North Korea; hence with full awareness of reality, he may not pitch high hopes but will have face-saving negotiations with North Korea.

North Korea, on the other hand, had been pursuing a "byungjin" policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy. With seemingly impractical promises made by North Korea in Singapore to get immediate relief from tough US sanctions, it stands disappointed as it’s smart move did not work. In November 2018, it warned the US that it will seriously consider returning to its erstwhile state policy of building nuclear weapons if the US does not withdraw economic sanctions against it.&nbsp;

North Korea is unlikely to give away its only strategic leverage after witnessing the fate of Iraq, Libya and recently Iraq. Kim's acts can be seen as 'nuclear blackmailing', but it is a feather in the cap of Kim which makes him taller in domestic as well as the global arena. UN reports also indicate that no worthwhile denuclearisation has happened in North Korea. &nbsp;

Expectations of other key players&nbsp;

South Korea will be genuinely looking for peace. Besides the nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, it suits South Korea to have an economically prosperous North Korea.

South Korea's gesture to recommence rail and road transportation between North and South Korea reflects its desire for better relations. China may not necessarily be too happy with Korean bonhomie and if the US obliges (although chances are remote) a US aligned peaceful Korean Peninsula.&nbsp;

China will never like the buffer between its mainland and US Forces in South Korea to go away and Kim to be stripped off all nukes.

China, however, made a smart move by unilaterally commencing logistics support and trade with North Korea. 
 
Japan will continue to be sceptical of North Korea with the threat it poses to it. The Russian concerns will be no different than Chinese regarding the development of THAAD. For any lasting solution China, Japan and Russia will have to be taken on board as the issue has crossed the limit of being a bilateral issue. &nbsp;

Will the summit succeed?&nbsp;

In diplomatic circles, no summit ever fails because minimum it can achieve is to develop better understanding and plan for further negotiations.&nbsp;

Having lost majority in Senate, President Trump will have to address the foreign policy issues to convince his voters for next Presidential elections that he tried his best.

US Defense Intelligence Agency report suggests that Iran and North Korea pose an increasing challenge to the US in space as both countries have developed jamming capabilities, which can also add to the agenda of the upcoming summit.&nbsp;

As a strategic analyst, I do not expect anything concrete coming out of the summit which can amuse the affected parties or the global community, except diplomatic niceties to lower temperatures, but both parties will claim it to be a success.&nbsp;

The fact that President Trump is meeting Kim Jong-un again means that 'nuclear blackmailing' works.

Expectations notwithstanding, it will be a summit which shows the priority of Trump administration, and perhaps the US also wants to give some signal to China by holding the summit in Chinese backyard with one of its closest allies.

The summit is being held at a time when the duration of truce in the trade war between the US and China is shrinking.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;&nbsp;

While South Korea has every reason to be cheerful about the upcoming summit of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam, hoping for a peaceful nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but with North Korean not doing enough to move towards denuclearisation, the hope appears to be impractical.

While South Korea has every reason to be cheerful about the upcoming summit of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam, hoping for a peaceful nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but with North Korean not doing enough to move towards denuclearisation, the hope appears to be impractical. Despite doing all the hard work for getting them together at Singapore for the first summit, South Korea would have realised, by now, that nothing worthwhile progressed beyond optics of a successful breakthrough. President Trump in a speech, earlier this month, had announced the summit with the hope that North Korea would comply with the Singapore understanding by North Korea. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier reiterated that sanctions will remain until Pyongyang carries out the complete verifiable denuclearisation commitments made in Singapore. The US is unlikely to settle down unless the threat to its mainland is eliminated. President Trump is also carrying the baggage of promise to do something, which his predecessors could not do with North Korea; hence with full awareness of reality, he may not pitch high hopes but will have face-saving negotiations with North Korea. North Korea, on the other hand, had been pursuing a "byungjin" policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy. With seemingly impractical promises made by North Korea in Singapore to get immediate relief from tough US sanctions, it stands disappointed as it’s smart move did not work. In November 2018, it warned the US that it will seriously consider returning to its erstwhile state policy of building nuclear weapons if the US does not withdraw economic sanctions against it. North Korea is unlikely to give away its only strategic leverage after witnessing the fate of Iraq, Libya and recently Iraq. Kim's acts can be seen as 'nuclear blackmailing', but it is a feather in the cap of Kim which makes him taller in domestic as well as the global arena. UN reports also indicate that no worthwhile denuclearisation has happened in North Korea. Expectations of other key players South Korea will be genuinely looking for peace. Besides the nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, it suits South Korea to have an economically prosperous North Korea. South Korea's gesture to recommence rail and road transportation between North and South Korea reflects its desire for better relations. China may not necessarily be too happy with Korean bonhomie and if the US obliges (although chances are remote) a US aligned peaceful Korean Peninsula. China will never like the buffer between its mainland and US Forces in South Korea to go away and Kim to be stripped off all nukes. China, however, made a smart move by unilaterally commencing logistics support and trade with North Korea. Japan will continue to be sceptical of North Korea with the threat it poses to it. The Russian concerns will be no different than Chinese regarding the development of THAAD. For any lasting solution China, Japan and Russia will have to be taken on board as the issue has crossed the limit of being a bilateral issue. Will the summit succeed? In diplomatic circles, no summit ever fails because minimum it can achieve is to develop better understanding and plan for further negotiations. Having lost majority in Senate, President Trump will have to address the foreign policy issues to convince his voters for next Presidential elections that he tried his best. US Defense Intelligence Agency report suggests that Iran and North Korea pose an increasing challenge to the US in space as both countries have developed jamming capabilities, which can also add to the agenda of the upcoming summit. As a strategic analyst, I do not expect anything concrete coming out of the summit which can amuse the affected parties or the global community, except diplomatic niceties to lower temperatures, but both parties will claim it to be a success. The fact that President Trump is meeting Kim Jong-un again means that 'nuclear blackmailing' works. Expectations notwithstanding, it will be a summit which shows the priority of Trump administration, and perhaps the US also wants to give some signal to China by holding the summit in Chinese backyard with one of its closest allies. The summit is being held at a time when the duration of truce in the trade war between the US and China is shrinking. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

What to expect from the Trump-Kim summit II

The choice of Vietnam as host of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-trump-summit-a-remarkable-breakthrough-for-peace-south-korean-president-moon-196694">this month's summit</a> between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shows the Southeast Asian nation is headed in the right direction, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Tuesday.

Last week, Trump said he would hold his second meeting with Kim in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on February 27 and 28. That follows an unprecedented June 11 summit of the two leaders in the wealthy city of Singapore.

"This important event has shown that Vietnam's investment environment is good, that Vietnam's development model is going in a right direction and especially that the security and safety in Vietnam is wonderful," Phuc told government officials at the Hanoi Stock Exchange.

"Vietnam will demonstrate its international role and do its best to let the word 'Vietnam'&nbsp;ring out."

Vietnam's foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, will visit North Korea from February 12 to 14 ahead of the summit.&nbsp;

In a statement on Tuesday, North Korean state news agency KCNA confirmed the Vietnamese delegation had arrived, but did not provide any details of their itinerary or agenda.

As Vietnam prepares for the summit, its reform model is being widely touted as the economic path for impoverished and isolated North Korea to follow.

Last year, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said North Korea could follow the example of Vietnam, adding that Trump believed Pyongyang could replicate Hanoi's path to normal relations with Washington and to prosperity.

The choice of Vietnam as host of this month's summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shows the Southeast Asian nation is headed in the right direction, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Tuesday.

The choice of Vietnam as host of this month's summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shows the Southeast Asian nation is headed in the right direction, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Tuesday. Last week, Trump said he would hold his second meeting with Kim in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on February 27 and 28. That follows an unprecedented June 11 summit of the two leaders in the wealthy city of Singapore. "This important event has shown that Vietnam's investment environment is good, that Vietnam's development model is going in a right direction and especially that the security and safety in Vietnam is wonderful," Phuc told government officials at the Hanoi Stock Exchange. "Vietnam will demonstrate its international role and do its best to let the word 'Vietnam' ring out." Vietnam's foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, will visit North Korea from February 12 to 14 ahead of the summit. In a statement on Tuesday, North Korean state news agency KCNA confirmed the Vietnamese delegation had arrived, but did not provide any details of their itinerary or agenda. As Vietnam prepares for the summit, its reform model is being widely touted as the economic path for impoverished and isolated North Korea to follow. Last year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said North Korea could follow the example of Vietnam, adding that Trump believed Pyongyang could replicate Hanoi's path to normal relations with Washington and to prosperity.

Vietnam says being chosen to host second Trump-Kim summit is positive sign

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-to-hold-talks-in-north-korea-on-wednesday-195180">US State Department</a> announced Friday that the special <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-back-from-north-korea-after-talks-on-trump-kim-summit-196109">US envoy for North Korea</a> will meet again with Pyongyang officials before a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un — hours after he returned to Seoul from talks in the North on the summit's agenda.

In a statement, the State Department said talks during Stephen Biegun's three-day trip explored Trump and Kim's "commitments of complete denuclearisation, transforming US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula" in preparation for the much-anticipated summit in Vietnam on February 27 and 28.

Biegun landed at Osan US Air Base Friday evening, foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP.

The State Department confirmed Biegun agreed to meet his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol again before the summit.

North Korea has yet to provide any official confirmation of the summit and Kim Jong Un appeared to make no mention of it during a meeting Friday with the top brass of the Korean People’s Army.

As reported by state media, the meeting focused on the need to modernise the military while maintaining party discipline in the ranks.

Biegun is expected to share details of his Pyongyang meetings with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Saturday.

Attention will focus on whether the US team have offered to lift some economic sanctions in return for Pyongyang taking concrete steps towards denuclearisation.

Discussions on declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could also have been on the table, with Biegun last week saying Trump was "ready to end this war".

The three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war, with the US keeping 28,500 troops in the South.&nbsp;

The US envoy was also likely to have discussed with his counterpart protocol and security matters for the upcoming Trump-Kim summit.

At their landmark summit in Singapore last year, the mercurial US and North Korean leaders produced a vaguely worded document in which Kim pledged to work towards "the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula".

But progress has since stalled, with the two sides disagreeing over what that means.

Experts say tangible progress on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons will be needed for the second summit if it is to avoid being dismissed as "reality TV". 
&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US State Department announced Friday that the special US envoy for North Korea will meet again with Pyongyang officials before a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un — hours after he returned to Seoul from talks in the North on the summit's agenda.

The US State Department announced Friday that the special US envoy for North Korea will meet again with Pyongyang officials before a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un — hours after he returned to Seoul from talks in the North on the summit's agenda. In a statement, the State Department said talks during Stephen Biegun's three-day trip explored Trump and Kim's "commitments of complete denuclearisation, transforming US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula" in preparation for the much-anticipated summit in Vietnam on February 27 and 28. Biegun landed at Osan US Air Base Friday evening, foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP. The State Department confirmed Biegun agreed to meet his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol again before the summit. North Korea has yet to provide any official confirmation of the summit and Kim Jong Un appeared to make no mention of it during a meeting Friday with the top brass of the Korean People’s Army. As reported by state media, the meeting focused on the need to modernise the military while maintaining party discipline in the ranks. Biegun is expected to share details of his Pyongyang meetings with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Saturday. Attention will focus on whether the US team have offered to lift some economic sanctions in return for Pyongyang taking concrete steps towards denuclearisation. Discussions on declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could also have been on the table, with Biegun last week saying Trump was "ready to end this war". The three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war, with the US keeping 28,500 troops in the South. The US envoy was also likely to have discussed with his counterpart protocol and security matters for the upcoming Trump-Kim summit. At their landmark summit in Singapore last year, the mercurial US and North Korean leaders produced a vaguely worded document in which Kim pledged to work towards "the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula". But progress has since stalled, with the two sides disagreeing over what that means. Experts say tangible progress on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons will be needed for the second summit if it is to avoid being dismissed as "reality TV".

US envoy to meet North Korea counterpart again ahead of Trump-Kim summit

President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. diplomats had a "very productive meeting" with North Korean officials, and he announced his summit later this month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held in Vietnam's capital,&nbsp;Hanoi.

"My representatives have just left North Korea after a very productive meeting and an agreed upon time and date for the second Summit with Kim Jong Un. It will take place in&nbsp;Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 &amp; 28," Trump said on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
My representatives have just left North Korea after a very productive meeting and an agreed upon time and date for the second Summit with Kim Jong Un. It will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 &amp; 28. I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim &amp; advancing the cause of peace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1094031561861881856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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"I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim &amp; advancing the cause of peace!" he said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, will become a great Economic Powerhouse. He may surprise some but he won’t surprise me, because I have gotten to know him &amp; fully understand how capable he is. North Korea will become a different kind of Rocket - an Economic one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1094035813820784640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Earlier this week, Trump announced the dates for the second summit with Kim and said it would be held in Vietnam, but the city had not been disclosed.

Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for North Korea, held three days of talks in Pyongyang to prepare for the summit, the State Department said on Friday.

It said Biegun had agreed with his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to meet again ahead of the summit.

In their talks in Pyongyang from Wednesday until Friday Biegun and Kim Hyok Chol "discussed advancing President Trump and Chairman Kim's Singapore summit commitments of complete denuclearization, transforming US-DPRK relations, and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," the State Department said.Its statement, which referred to North Korea by the acronym for its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, gave no indication of any progress in the talks.

Just weeks ahead of the planned summit to follow on from an unprecedented first meeting between the leaders in Singapore last June, the two sides have appeared far from narrowing differences over US demands for North Korea to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States.

Biegun said last week his Pyongyang talks would be aimed at seeking progress on commitments made in Singapore and mapping out "a set of concrete deliverables" for the second summit.

He said Washington was willing to discuss "many actions" to improve ties and entice Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and that Trump was ready to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which concluded with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

'Economic powerhouse'

Biegun said Kim Jong Un committed during an October visit by US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the dismantling and destruction of plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities and that "corresponding measures" demanded by North Korea would be the subject of his talks.

At the same time, he set out an extensive list of demands that North Korea would have to meet eventually, including full disclosure of its nuclear and missile programs, something Pyongyang has rejected for decades.

Trump, eager for a foreign policy win to distract from domestic troubles, has been keen for a second summit despite a lack of significant moves by North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. He and Biegun have stressed the economic benefits to North Korea if it does so.

"North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, will become a great Economic Powerhouse," Trump said on Twitter.

"He may surprise some but he won't surprise me, because I have gotten to know him &amp; fully understand how capable he is," Trump said.

Trump announced the plan for his second meeting with Kim in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Trump said much work remained to be done in the push for peace with North Korea, but cited the halt in its nuclear testing and no new missile launches in 15 months as proof of progress.

The Singapore summit yielded a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, where US&nbsp;troops have been stationed since the Korean War.

While in the US view North Korea has yet to take concrete steps to give up its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang complains that Washington has done little to reciprocate for its freezing of nuclear and missile testing and dismantling of some facilities.

Pyongyang has repeatedly urged a lifting of punishing US-led sanctions, a formal end to the war, and security guarantees.

South Korea's Yonhap News agency quoted that country's foreign ministry as saying that Biegun arrived back in Seoul from Pyongyang on Friday evening, Seoul time, and would meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Saturday morning to provide her a briefing on the results of his talks.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. diplomats had a "very productive meeting" with North Korean officials, and he announced his summit later this month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. diplomats had a "very productive meeting" with North Korean officials, and he announced his summit later this month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be held in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. "My representatives have just left North Korea after a very productive meeting and an agreed upon time and date for the second Summit with Kim Jong Un. It will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 & 28," Trump said on Twitter. My representatives have just left North Korea after a very productive meeting and an agreed upon time and date for the second Summit with Kim Jong Un. It will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 & 28. I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim & advancing the cause of peace! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2019 × "I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim & advancing the cause of peace!" he said. North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, will become a great Economic Powerhouse. He may surprise some but he won’t surprise me, because I have gotten to know him & fully understand how capable he is. North Korea will become a different kind of Rocket - an Economic one! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2019 × Earlier this week, Trump announced the dates for the second summit with Kim and said it would be held in Vietnam, but the city had not been disclosed. Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for North Korea, held three days of talks in Pyongyang to prepare for the summit, the State Department said on Friday. It said Biegun had agreed with his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to meet again ahead of the summit. In their talks in Pyongyang from Wednesday until Friday Biegun and Kim Hyok Chol "discussed advancing President Trump and Chairman Kim's Singapore summit commitments of complete denuclearization, transforming US-DPRK relations, and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," the State Department said.Its statement, which referred to North Korea by the acronym for its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, gave no indication of any progress in the talks. Just weeks ahead of the planned summit to follow on from an unprecedented first meeting between the leaders in Singapore last June, the two sides have appeared far from narrowing differences over US demands for North Korea to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States. Biegun said last week his Pyongyang talks would be aimed at seeking progress on commitments made in Singapore and mapping out "a set of concrete deliverables" for the second summit. He said Washington was willing to discuss "many actions" to improve ties and entice Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and that Trump was ready to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which concluded with an armistice, not a peace treaty. 'Economic powerhouse' Biegun said Kim Jong Un committed during an October visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the dismantling and destruction of plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities and that "corresponding measures" demanded by North Korea would be the subject of his talks. At the same time, he set out an extensive list of demands that North Korea would have to meet eventually, including full disclosure of its nuclear and missile programs, something Pyongyang has rejected for decades. Trump, eager for a foreign policy win to distract from domestic troubles, has been keen for a second summit despite a lack of significant moves by North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. He and Biegun have stressed the economic benefits to North Korea if it does so. "North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, will become a great Economic Powerhouse," Trump said on Twitter. "He may surprise some but he won't surprise me, because I have gotten to know him & fully understand how capable he is," Trump said. Trump announced the plan for his second meeting with Kim in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday. Trump said much work remained to be done in the push for peace with North Korea, but cited the halt in its nuclear testing and no new missile launches in 15 months as proof of progress. The Singapore summit yielded a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, where US troops have been stationed since the Korean War. While in the US view North Korea has yet to take concrete steps to give up its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang complains that Washington has done little to reciprocate for its freezing of nuclear and missile testing and dismantling of some facilities. Pyongyang has repeatedly urged a lifting of punishing US-led sanctions, a formal end to the war, and security guarantees. South Korea's Yonhap News agency quoted that country's foreign ministry as saying that Biegun arrived back in Seoul from Pyongyang on Friday evening, Seoul time, and would meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Saturday morning to provide her a briefing on the results of his talks.

Trump says summit with Kim to take place in Hanoi

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was dispatching a team to make preparations for the next summit between<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-discusses-expected-summit-with-trump-in-talks-in-china-report-189075"> President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim</a> Jong Un to be held somewhere in Asia late in February.

In an interview with Fox News Channel, Pompeo said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-nkorea-negotiating-on-location-for-next-kim-summit-188593">North Koreans had agreed the second </a>summit between the two leaders would be held at the end of February.

Pompeo did not name the summit venue. Vietnam had said last week it had not been informed about any time or venue for a possible Trump-Kim summit, but that it was confident in its ability to host such a meeting.

Officials and diplomats had said two weeks ago that Vietnam was keen to host the summit and two sources told Reuters that Hanoi was preparing to receive Kim on a state visit.

Singapore, where Trump and Kim met in June, and Bangkok have also been talked about as possibilities for the planned summit.

Last June's summit - the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader - produced a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, but he has yet to take what Washington sees as concrete steps in that direction.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was dispatching a team to make preparations for the next summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be held somewhere in Asia late in February.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was dispatching a team to make preparations for the next summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be held somewhere in Asia late in February. In an interview with Fox News Channel, Pompeo said the North Koreans had agreed the second summit between the two leaders would be held at the end of February. Pompeo did not name the summit venue. Vietnam had said last week it had not been informed about any time or venue for a possible Trump-Kim summit, but that it was confident in its ability to host such a meeting. Officials and diplomats had said two weeks ago that Vietnam was keen to host the summit and two sources told Reuters that Hanoi was preparing to receive Kim on a state visit. Singapore, where Trump and Kim met in June, and Bangkok have also been talked about as possibilities for the planned summit. Last June's summit - the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader - produced a vague commitment by Kim to work toward the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, but he has yet to take what Washington sees as concrete steps in that direction.

Trump-Kim summit to be held somewhere in Asia in late February: Pompeo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's trip to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-hopes-north-korea-and-us-meet-each-other-halfway-president-xi-to-kim-189285">China this week is a sign that a second</a> summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump is "imminent", the South Korea President Moon Jae-in said Thursday.&nbsp;

"I think chairman Kim Jong-un's visit to China will have a<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-ends-beijing-visit-as-trump-summit-looms-189192"> very positive effect on the success</a> of the second US-North Korea summit," Moon told reporters.

North Korea needs to take "more bold, practical measures for denuclearisation", the President Moon Jae-in said&nbsp;with negotiations stalling between Pyongyang and Washington.

"Corresponding measures must be devised in order to facilitate North Korea's continued denuclearisation efforts," he added, such as the US agreeing a "peace regime" and formally declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Conditions for resuming key economic projects between North and South Korea have already been met, President Moon Jae-in, who has been pursuing engagement with Pyongyang, said Thursday.

"The prerequisites for the two Koreas resuming operation of the Kaesong Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism have essentially been met already," Moon told reporters, adding that Seoul would seek to "resolve" the issue of international sanctions on the nuclear-armed North "as soon as possible". 
&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's trip to China this week is a sign that a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump is "imminent", the South Korea President Moon Jae-in said Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's trip to China this week is a sign that a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump is "imminent", the South Korea President Moon Jae-in said Thursday. "I think chairman Kim Jong-un's visit to China will have a very positive effect on the success of the second US-North Korea summit," Moon told reporters. North Korea needs to take "more bold, practical measures for denuclearisation", the President Moon Jae-in said with negotiations stalling between Pyongyang and Washington. "Corresponding measures must be devised in order to facilitate North Korea's continued denuclearisation efforts," he added, such as the US agreeing a "peace regime" and formally declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War. Conditions for resuming key economic projects between North and South Korea have already been met, President Moon Jae-in, who has been pursuing engagement with Pyongyang, said Thursday. "The prerequisites for the two Koreas resuming operation of the Kaesong Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism have essentially been met already," Moon told reporters, adding that Seoul would seek to "resolve" the issue of international sanctions on the nuclear-armed North "as soon as possible".

Kim, Trump second summit imminent: South Korea President Moon

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo headed to Pyongyang Sunday for new talks with Kim Jong Un on denuclearisation and a second US-North Korean summit.

Pompeo departed from Tokyo, where he spent the first leg of a tour that will include stops in Pyongyang, South Korea and China.

"Next stop Pyongyang to meet with Chairman Kim and continue our work to fulfil the commitments made (by) POTUS and Chairman Kim," Pompeo tweeted, using an acronym to refer to US President Donald Trump.

The trip will be Pompeo's fourth to Pyongyang, as the contours of a possibly historic US-North Korea deal take shape.

On the flight to Tokyo, Pompeo said his aim was to "develop sufficient trust" between Washington and Pyongyang to inch towards peace.

"Then we are also going to set up the next summit," said Pompeo.

However, he played down expectations for a major breakthrough.

"I doubt we will get it nailed but begin to develop options for both location and timing for when Chairman Kim will meet with the president again. Maybe we will get further than that," said the top US diplomat.

Bumpy road

In June, Trump met Kim in Singapore for the first-ever summit between the countries.

No sitting US president has ever visited North Korea, which according to human rights groups remains one of the most repressive countries on Earth.

Since the Singapore summit, which yielded what critics charge was only a vague commitment by Kim towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the road towards warmer ties has been bumpy.

Trump scrapped a previously planned trip by his top diplomat to Pyongyang after what he said was insufficient progress towards implementing the terms of the Singapore declaration.

But the unorthodox US president has since declared himself "in love" with the strongman in Pyongyang.

Pompeo's stop in Tokyo before the summit was intended to reassure the US ally that Washington's diplomacy will not leave Japan out in the cold.

Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Pompeo said the two historic allies would have a "fully coordinated, unified view of how to proceed, which will be what is needed if we are going to be successful on denuclearising North Korea."

Japan, which has seen North Korean missiles fly over its territory and been threatened with annihilation, has historically taken a hard line on Pyongyang and stressed the need to maintain pressure on the regime.

More recently, however, Abe has said the only way to improve strained ties is a face-to-face meeting with former international pariah Kim.

Pompeo has repeatedly declined to be drawn publicly on the shape of an eventual agreement. The United States has called for a comprehensive accord and strict enforcement of sanctions on North Korea in the meantime.

Grand bargain

After Pyongyang, Pompeo travels to South Korea, whose dovish president Moon Jae-in has served as a go-between for the two sides.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has given a hint of what a grand bargain between the two countries could look like.

In an interview with the Washington Post, she said the North could agree to dismantle Yongbyon, its signature nuclear site.

In exchange, the United States would declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War -- which concluded with an armistice rather than a full-blown peace treaty -- but North Korea would stop short of delivering an exhaustive list of its nuclear facilities, she said.

Pompeo did not discuss the possible outlines of a deal, saying only that his "mission is to make sure that we understand what each side is truly trying to achieve."

After Seoul, Pompeo closes his trip Monday in China, North Korea's political and economic lifeline.

The Beijing stop could be tense as it comes days after Vice President Mike Pence delivered a blistering speech accusing China of military aggression, commercial theft, rising human rights violations and electoral intervention against Trump.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo headed to Pyongyang Sunday for new talks with Kim Jong Un on denuclearisation and a second US-North Korean summit. Pompeo departed from Tokyo, where he spent the first leg of a tour that will include stops in Pyongyang, South Korea and China.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo headed to Pyongyang Sunday for new talks with Kim Jong Un on denuclearisation and a second US-North Korean summit. Pompeo departed from Tokyo, where he spent the first leg of a tour that will include stops in Pyongyang, South Korea and China. "Next stop Pyongyang to meet with Chairman Kim and continue our work to fulfil the commitments made (by) POTUS and Chairman Kim," Pompeo tweeted, using an acronym to refer to US President Donald Trump. The trip will be Pompeo's fourth to Pyongyang, as the contours of a possibly historic US-North Korea deal take shape. On the flight to Tokyo, Pompeo said his aim was to "develop sufficient trust" between Washington and Pyongyang to inch towards peace. "Then we are also going to set up the next summit," said Pompeo. However, he played down expectations for a major breakthrough. "I doubt we will get it nailed but begin to develop options for both location and timing for when Chairman Kim will meet with the president again. Maybe we will get further than that," said the top US diplomat. Bumpy road In June, Trump met Kim in Singapore for the first-ever summit between the countries. No sitting US president has ever visited North Korea, which according to human rights groups remains one of the most repressive countries on Earth. Since the Singapore summit, which yielded what critics charge was only a vague commitment by Kim towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the road towards warmer ties has been bumpy. Trump scrapped a previously planned trip by his top diplomat to Pyongyang after what he said was insufficient progress towards implementing the terms of the Singapore declaration. But the unorthodox US president has since declared himself "in love" with the strongman in Pyongyang. Pompeo's stop in Tokyo before the summit was intended to reassure the US ally that Washington's diplomacy will not leave Japan out in the cold. Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Pompeo said the two historic allies would have a "fully coordinated, unified view of how to proceed, which will be what is needed if we are going to be successful on denuclearising North Korea." Japan, which has seen North Korean missiles fly over its territory and been threatened with annihilation, has historically taken a hard line on Pyongyang and stressed the need to maintain pressure on the regime. More recently, however, Abe has said the only way to improve strained ties is a face-to-face meeting with former international pariah Kim. Pompeo has repeatedly declined to be drawn publicly on the shape of an eventual agreement. The United States has called for a comprehensive accord and strict enforcement of sanctions on North Korea in the meantime. Grand bargain After Pyongyang, Pompeo travels to South Korea, whose dovish president Moon Jae-in has served as a go-between for the two sides. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has given a hint of what a grand bargain between the two countries could look like. In an interview with the Washington Post, she said the North could agree to dismantle Yongbyon, its signature nuclear site. In exchange, the United States would declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War -- which concluded with an armistice rather than a full-blown peace treaty -- but North Korea would stop short of delivering an exhaustive list of its nuclear facilities, she said. Pompeo did not discuss the possible outlines of a deal, saying only that his "mission is to make sure that we understand what each side is truly trying to achieve." After Seoul, Pompeo closes his trip Monday in China, North Korea's political and economic lifeline. The Beijing stop could be tense as it comes days after Vice President Mike Pence delivered a blistering speech accusing China of military aggression, commercial theft, rising human rights violations and electoral intervention against Trump.

US's Pompeo heads to Pyongyang, seeking progress on 2nd Trump-Kim summit

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday agreed to return to North Korea next month to push forward denuclearization talks as President Donald Trump predicted breakthroughs soon.

Pompeo met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, to discuss plans for his fourth trip to the longtime US arch-enemy.

Pompeo accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to return to Pyongyang in October to move ahead on efforts for "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK," the State Department said, referring to the North by its official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose meeting in June in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the two states.

Trump has hailed his initiative with North Korea as a signature foreign policy success and heaped praise on Kim.

His praise comes just one year after he mocked Kim as a "rocket man" at the United Nations and threatened a forceful military response.

Critics question how much North Korea has actually changed.

The regime, considered by human rights groups to be among the world's most repressive, has carried out six nuclear tests and says it has missiles that can hit the United States, although many analysts doubt its boasts.

Making a deal&nbsp;

Trump announced Wednesday that Kim sent him a new, "extraordinary" letter and said he expected the second summit to take place "fairly quickly."

"We have a very good relationship. He likes me, I like him," he later told a press conference in New York.

"I really believe he wants to get it done. He wants to make a deal, I want to make a deal."

Trump said that the United States would have been drawn into a war with North Korea if he had not been elected.

"If I wasn't elected, you would have had a war," Trump said before adding that "nobody is talking about that" anymore.

Speaking earlier as he chaired a special session of the UN Security Council on non-proliferation, Trump said: "Kim Jong Un, a man I have gotten to know and like, wants peace and prosperity for North Korea."

But Trump also called for the enforcement of sanctions, which the United States has spent years building through the Security Council in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests.

He said the United States accused "some nations" of violating sanctions, including through illegal ship-to-ship transfer of oil to North Korean tankers at sea.

South Korea urges movement&nbsp;

Pushing hard for reconciliation is South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a dove who traveled this month to Pyongyang for the second inter-Korean summit this year.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Moon said that North Korea "moved out of longstanding isolation on its own initiative and stands before the international community once again."

"Now it is the international community's turn to respond positively to North Korea's new choices and efforts," he said.

In contrast with Trump's call for sustained sanctions, Moon has called for a step-by-step approach to nudge Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in exchange for sanctions relief.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who rose to political prominence as a hardliner on North Korea, has also rejected a quick easing of sanctions, but at the United Nations on Tuesday said that he too was willing to meet Kim.

Nevertheless, Abe said the focus of any summit would be to resolve the fate of Japanese civilians kidnapped by Pyongyang's spies in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pompeo, in an interview broadcast Wednesday with CBS News, said he believed that North Korea would allow international inspectors to verify any commitments.

"We're not going to buy a pig in a poke," he said.

"We're going to get this right, we're going to deliver on this commitment that Chairman Kim has made to the world, and then there's going to be a brighter future for the North Korean people, and there'll be a more peaceful world."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday agreed to return to North Korea next month to push forward denuclearization talks as President Donald Trump predicted breakthroughs soon.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday agreed to return to North Korea next month to push forward denuclearization talks as President Donald Trump predicted breakthroughs soon. Pompeo met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, to discuss plans for his fourth trip to the longtime US arch-enemy. Pompeo accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to return to Pyongyang in October to move ahead on efforts for "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK," the State Department said, referring to the North by its official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose meeting in June in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the two states. Trump has hailed his initiative with North Korea as a signature foreign policy success and heaped praise on Kim. His praise comes just one year after he mocked Kim as a "rocket man" at the United Nations and threatened a forceful military response. Critics question how much North Korea has actually changed. The regime, considered by human rights groups to be among the world's most repressive, has carried out six nuclear tests and says it has missiles that can hit the United States, although many analysts doubt its boasts. Making a deal Trump announced Wednesday that Kim sent him a new, "extraordinary" letter and said he expected the second summit to take place "fairly quickly." "We have a very good relationship. He likes me, I like him," he later told a press conference in New York. "I really believe he wants to get it done. He wants to make a deal, I want to make a deal." Trump said that the United States would have been drawn into a war with North Korea if he had not been elected. "If I wasn't elected, you would have had a war," Trump said before adding that "nobody is talking about that" anymore. Speaking earlier as he chaired a special session of the UN Security Council on non-proliferation, Trump said: "Kim Jong Un, a man I have gotten to know and like, wants peace and prosperity for North Korea." But Trump also called for the enforcement of sanctions, which the United States has spent years building through the Security Council in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. He said the United States accused "some nations" of violating sanctions, including through illegal ship-to-ship transfer of oil to North Korean tankers at sea. South Korea urges movement Pushing hard for reconciliation is South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a dove who traveled this month to Pyongyang for the second inter-Korean summit this year. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Moon said that North Korea "moved out of longstanding isolation on its own initiative and stands before the international community once again." "Now it is the international community's turn to respond positively to North Korea's new choices and efforts," he said. In contrast with Trump's call for sustained sanctions, Moon has called for a step-by-step approach to nudge Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in exchange for sanctions relief. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who rose to political prominence as a hardliner on North Korea, has also rejected a quick easing of sanctions, but at the United Nations on Tuesday said that he too was willing to meet Kim. Nevertheless, Abe said the focus of any summit would be to resolve the fate of Japanese civilians kidnapped by Pyongyang's spies in the 1970s and 1980s. Pompeo, in an interview broadcast Wednesday with CBS News, said he believed that North Korea would allow international inspectors to verify any commitments. "We're not going to buy a pig in a poke," he said. "We're going to get this right, we're going to deliver on this commitment that Chairman Kim has made to the world, and then there's going to be a brighter future for the North Korean people, and there'll be a more peaceful world."

US Secretary of State Pompeo to return to North Korea as Trump hails Kim

A jubilant-sounding President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that his "deal" with Kim Jong Un has ended the North Korean nuclear threat, as his top diplomat said he hoped to see "major disarmament" of the country by 2020.

Despite the lack of detail, or binding terms in the joint statement agreed with Kim -- which has alarmed a majority of observers of the nuclear standoff -- Trump struck a resolutely bullish tone.

"There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea," he tweeted in one of a series of early morning pronouncements.

Trump added that everybody "can now feel much safer than the day I took office" and people could "sleep well tonight!"

Critics said the unprecedented encounter between Kim and Trump was more style than substance, producing a document short on specifics about the key issue of Pyongyang's atomic weapons.

But the US president trumpeted the outcome as a "deal" with North Korea and vowed there would be "no more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research!"

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking to reporters in Seoul, said the United States hoped for "major disarmament" of North Korea by the end of 2020.

In the summit statement, Kim pledged to "work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" -- a stock phrase favored by Pyongyang that stopped short of longstanding US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way.

When questioned on the wording, Pompeo said Trump's intention was to allow the US the opportunity to pursue further productive conversations on the issue with Pyongyang.

"Let me assure you that 'complete' encompasses verifiable in the minds of everyone concerned," Pompeo said.

"One can't completely denuclearize without validating, authenticating."

Pompeo said he expects the US would next speak to North Korean officials "fairly quickly after we return to our home countries," adding he was "very confident" that some form of engagement would occur in the next week.

Meeting of the century

In North Korea, state media praised Kim for "opening a new chapter" in relations with the United States, and said Trump had accepted an invitation to visit the North.

Just months ago, Kim and Trump were trading threats and personal insults as the North conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.

Adam Schiff, a top US Democrat and staunch Trump critic, warned the standoff was far from resolved.

"North Korea still has all its nuclear missiles, and we only got a vague promise of future denuclearization from a regime that can't be trusted. North Korea is a real and present threat.&nbsp

"So is a dangerously naive president," Schiff said.

But Victor Cha, a former US pointman on North Korea, gave Trump more credit, writing in The New York Times: "Despite its many flaws, the Singapore summit represents the start of a diplomatic process that takes us away from the brink of war."

Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting, where Kim stood as an equal with Trump in front of their nations' flags.

In North Korea, the official KCNA news agency described the summit as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations."

KCNA also asserted Trump had "expressed his intention" to lift sanctions against the North -- something the US president had said would happen "when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor."&nbsp

With the headline: "Meeting of the century opens new history in DPRK-US relations," the North's ruling Workers Party official daily Rodong Sinmun splashed no fewer than 33 pictures across four of its usual six pages.

In Pyongyang, commuters crowded round the spread of images.

U Sung Tak, 79, said the future was looking "bright" because Kim was "leading the world's political trend on the Korean peninsula, steering the wheel of history."

Ordinary North Koreans consistently voice unequivocal support for the leadership when speaking to foreign media.

War games

The Singapore summit was a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy, and whose autocratic leader stands accused of murdering opponents and members of his own family.

"Kim Jong Un got what he wanted at the Singapore Summit: the international prestige and respect of a one-on-one meeting with the American president, the legitimacy of North Korean flags hanging next to American flags in the background," said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center.

In his post-summit press conference, Trump made the surprise announcement that the US would halt joint military exercises with its security ally Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion.

He defended that decision Wednesday, tweeting: "We save a fortune by not doing war games, as long as we are negotiating in good faith - which both sides are!"

The Pentagon could not immediately provide an estimate of how much the drills cost.

Both Seoul and US military officials have said they had no idea the announcement was coming, while Japan's Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera warned the drills played a "vital role in East Asia's security."

Still, Japan joined fellow world powers from China to the European Union and Russia in welcoming the summit -- while cautioning it was only a first step towards resolving the stand-off with Pyongyang.

Echoing that stance, Akira Kawasaki of the ICAN anti-nuclear group said the summit was "a great photo-op," but that "the substance needs to be followed up."

Despite the lack of detail, or binding terms in the joint statement agreed with Kim -- which has alarmed a majority of observers of the nuclear standoff -- Trump struck a resolutely bullish tone

A jubilant-sounding President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that his "deal" with Kim Jong Un has ended the North Korean nuclear threat, as his top diplomat said he hoped to see "major disarmament" of the country by 2020. Despite the lack of detail, or binding terms in the joint statement agreed with Kim -- which has alarmed a majority of observers of the nuclear standoff -- Trump struck a resolutely bullish tone. "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea," he tweeted in one of a series of early morning pronouncements. Trump added that everybody "can now feel much safer than the day I took office" and people could "sleep well tonight!" Critics said the unprecedented encounter between Kim and Trump was more style than substance, producing a document short on specifics about the key issue of Pyongyang's atomic weapons. But the US president trumpeted the outcome as a "deal" with North Korea and vowed there would be "no more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research!" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking to reporters in Seoul, said the United States hoped for "major disarmament" of North Korea by the end of 2020. In the summit statement, Kim pledged to "work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" -- a stock phrase favored by Pyongyang that stopped short of longstanding US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way. When questioned on the wording, Pompeo said Trump's intention was to allow the US the opportunity to pursue further productive conversations on the issue with Pyongyang. "Let me assure you that 'complete' encompasses verifiable in the minds of everyone concerned," Pompeo said. "One can't completely denuclearize without validating, authenticating." Pompeo said he expects the US would next speak to North Korean officials "fairly quickly after we return to our home countries," adding he was "very confident" that some form of engagement would occur in the next week. Meeting of the century In North Korea, state media praised Kim for "opening a new chapter" in relations with the United States, and said Trump had accepted an invitation to visit the North. Just months ago, Kim and Trump were trading threats and personal insults as the North conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. Adam Schiff, a top US Democrat and staunch Trump critic, warned the standoff was far from resolved. "North Korea still has all its nuclear missiles, and we only got a vague promise of future denuclearization from a regime that can't be trusted. North Korea is a real and present threat. "So is a dangerously naive president," Schiff said. But Victor Cha, a former US pointman on North Korea, gave Trump more credit, writing in The New York Times: "Despite its many flaws, the Singapore summit represents the start of a diplomatic process that takes us away from the brink of war." Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting, where Kim stood as an equal with Trump in front of their nations' flags. In North Korea, the official KCNA news agency described the summit as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations." KCNA also asserted Trump had "expressed his intention" to lift sanctions against the North -- something the US president had said would happen "when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor." With the headline: "Meeting of the century opens new history in DPRK-US relations," the North's ruling Workers Party official daily Rodong Sinmun splashed no fewer than 33 pictures across four of its usual six pages. In Pyongyang, commuters crowded round the spread of images. U Sung Tak, 79, said the future was looking "bright" because Kim was "leading the world's political trend on the Korean peninsula, steering the wheel of history." Ordinary North Koreans consistently voice unequivocal support for the leadership when speaking to foreign media. War games The Singapore summit was a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy, and whose autocratic leader stands accused of murdering opponents and members of his own family. "Kim Jong Un got what he wanted at the Singapore Summit: the international prestige and respect of a one-on-one meeting with the American president, the legitimacy of North Korean flags hanging next to American flags in the background," said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center. In his post-summit press conference, Trump made the surprise announcement that the US would halt joint military exercises with its security ally Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion. He defended that decision Wednesday, tweeting: "We save a fortune by not doing war games, as long as we are negotiating in good faith - which both sides are!" The Pentagon could not immediately provide an estimate of how much the drills cost. Both Seoul and US military officials have said they had no idea the announcement was coming, while Japan's Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera warned the drills played a "vital role in East Asia's security." Still, Japan joined fellow world powers from China to the European Union and Russia in welcoming the summit -- while cautioning it was only a first step towards resolving the stand-off with Pyongyang. Echoing that stance, Akira Kawasaki of the ICAN anti-nuclear group said the summit was "a great photo-op," but that "the substance needs to be followed up."

World can 'sleep well' after North Korea summit, Trump says

Japan is working on arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with one possibility including the premier's visit to Pyongyang around August, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday.

Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump this week agreed to halt joint US-South Korean military exercises after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, drills Japan's defence minister said were "vital" for East Asian security.

North Korea fired at least two missiles over Japan last year as it sought to develop a weapon capable of reaching the US&nbspmainland with a nuclear warhead.

Japan is expected to contribute towards the costs of North Korea's denuclearisation but only after the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Abe has made the resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea a political pledge and has said Japan would hold back economic assistance until those issues, along with denuclearisation, are resolved.

If Abe's visit to Pyongyang proves difficult, Japan is eyeing another scenario for Abe to meet Kim on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in September in Vladivostok, if the North Korean leader attends, the paper said.

A government source familiar with the matter said that Japanese officials planned to discuss the summit meeting with North Korean officials at an international conference on Northeast Asian security to be held on Thursday and Friday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The person added that it was still unclear whether Abe would attend the conference in Vladivostok in September when his ruling Liberal Democratic Party is due to hold a leadership race.

Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders

Japan is working on arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with one possibility including the premier's visit to Pyongyang around August, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday. Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump this week agreed to halt joint US-South Korean military exercises after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, drills Japan's defence minister said were "vital" for East Asian security. North Korea fired at least two missiles over Japan last year as it sought to develop a weapon capable of reaching the US&nbspmainland with a nuclear warhead. Japan is expected to contribute towards the costs of North Korea's denuclearisation but only after the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, a spokesman said on Wednesday. Abe has made the resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea a political pledge and has said Japan would hold back economic assistance until those issues, along with denuclearisation, are resolved. If Abe's visit to Pyongyang proves difficult, Japan is eyeing another scenario for Abe to meet Kim on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in September in Vladivostok, if the North Korean leader attends, the paper said. A government source familiar with the matter said that Japanese officials planned to discuss the summit meeting with North Korean officials at an international conference on Northeast Asian security to be held on Thursday and Friday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The person added that it was still unclear whether Abe would attend the conference in Vladivostok in September when his ruling Liberal Democratic Party is due to hold a leadership race.

Japan eying Abe-Kim summit with possible Pyongyang visit: Report

Donald Trump accepted an invitation from Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea during their historic summit, Pyongyang state media reported Wednesday, as the US president said the world had jumped back from the brink of "nuclear catastrophe".&nbsp;

Tuesday's unprecedented encounter in Singapore saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with Kim, the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, as they stood as equals in front of their nations' flags.

In a characteristically bullish tweet, Trump said the first-ever summit between sitting leaders of the two Cold War foes meant "the World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe!"

"No more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research! The hostages are back home with their families. Thank you to Chairman Kim, our day together was historic!"

In a joint statement following the talks, Kim agreed to the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula" -- a stock phrase favoured by Pyongyang that stopped short of long-standing US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way.

In its first report on the landmark summit, the official KCNA news agency ran a glowing dispatch on the talks, describing them as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations".

The report said the two men each asked the other to visit their country.

"The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA said.

It asserted that Trump had "expressed his intention" to lift sanctions against the North -- something the US president had told a blockbuster press conference would happen "when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor".

"The sanctions right now remain," he added.&nbsp;

With the headline: "Meeting of the century opens new history in DPRK-US relations", the North's ruling Workers Party official daily Rodong Sinmun splashed no fewer than 33 pictures across four of its usual six pages.

One of the pictures showed a smiling Kim shaking hands with Trump's hawkish National Security Advisor John Bolton, who has previously advocated military action against the North, which in turn has referred to him as "human scum."

'War games' 
Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting, a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy.

"Kim Jong Un got what he wanted at the Singapore Summit: the international prestige and respect of a one-on-one meeting with the American president, the legitimacy of North Korean flags hanging next to American flags in the background," said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center.

In his post-summit press conference, Trump made the surprise announcement that the US would halt joint military exercises with its security ally Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion.

The US stations around 30,000 troops in security ally South Korea to protect it from its neighbour, which invaded in 1950 in an attempt to reunify the peninsula by force.

"We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters, adding that "at some point" he wanted to withdraw US troops from the South.

Both Seoul and US military commanders in the South indicated they had no idea the announcement was coming, and in an editorial Wednesday the Korea Herald said it was "worrisome".

Smiles and handshakes 
The Singapore summit was a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men -- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, or Ronald Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik.

Only a few months ago, the pair were swapping personal insults such as "dotard" and "little rocket man" and the North conducted its six and most powerful nuclear test, as well as firing missiles over Japan.

Trump vowed to rain down "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if it threatened the US but instead in Singapore it was compliments that flowed, as the president described Kim as "talented" and said they had forged a "special bond."

After a day filled with smiles and handshakes watched around the world, the US "committed to provide security guarantees" to North Korea.

But critics charged that the summit legitimised Kim, whose regime has been accused of multiple human rights abuses, and said the summit was more about headlines than substantive progress.

Trump said the US would be checking Kim's progress towards denuclearisation "very strongly" but many agreements made in the past with North Korea have later fallen apart.

World powers from China to Japan, the European Union and Russia welcomed its outcome -- while cautioning it was only the first step towards resolving the nuclear stand-off with Pyongyang.

But some media in Japan, which North Korea has in the past threatened to "sink into the sea", were cautious.

"The real bargaining has now started between the US and North Korea. Problems that cannot be solved through a bling-bling political show remain on both sides," said the liberal Mainichi Shimbun.

Kim says denuclearisation dependent on ceasing antagonism: KCNA

Kim Jong-Un meanwhile said ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons is dependent on Washington and Pyongyang ceasing moves that antagonise each other, the North's state media said Wednesday.

"Kim Jong Un said in order to achieve peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and realise its denuclearisation, the two countries should commit themselves to refraining from antagonising... each other out of mutual understanding," the state-run KCNA news agency said.

Kim meanwhile said ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons is dependent on Washington and Pyongyang ceasing moves that antagonise each other

Donald Trump accepted an invitation from Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea during their historic summit, Pyongyang state media reported Wednesday, as the US president said the world had jumped back from the brink of "nuclear catastrophe". Tuesday's unprecedented encounter in Singapore saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with Kim, the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, as they stood as equals in front of their nations' flags. In a characteristically bullish tweet, Trump said the first-ever summit between sitting leaders of the two Cold War foes meant "the World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe!" "No more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research! The hostages are back home with their families. Thank you to Chairman Kim, our day together was historic!" In a joint statement following the talks, Kim agreed to the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula" -- a stock phrase favoured by Pyongyang that stopped short of long-standing US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way. In its first report on the landmark summit, the official KCNA news agency ran a glowing dispatch on the talks, describing them as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations". The report said the two men each asked the other to visit their country. "The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA said. It asserted that Trump had "expressed his intention" to lift sanctions against the North -- something the US president had told a blockbuster press conference would happen "when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor". "The sanctions right now remain," he added. With the headline: "Meeting of the century opens new history in DPRK-US relations", the North's ruling Workers Party official daily Rodong Sinmun splashed no fewer than 33 pictures across four of its usual six pages. One of the pictures showed a smiling Kim shaking hands with Trump's hawkish National Security Advisor John Bolton, who has previously advocated military action against the North, which in turn has referred to him as "human scum." 'War games' Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting, a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy. "Kim Jong Un got what he wanted at the Singapore Summit: the international prestige and respect of a one-on-one meeting with the American president, the legitimacy of North Korean flags hanging next to American flags in the background," said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center. In his post-summit press conference, Trump made the surprise announcement that the US would halt joint military exercises with its security ally Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion. The US stations around 30,000 troops in security ally South Korea to protect it from its neighbour, which invaded in 1950 in an attempt to reunify the peninsula by force. "We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters, adding that "at some point" he wanted to withdraw US troops from the South. Both Seoul and US military commanders in the South indicated they had no idea the announcement was coming, and in an editorial Wednesday the Korea Herald said it was "worrisome". Smiles and handshakes The Singapore summit was a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men -- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, or Ronald Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik. Only a few months ago, the pair were swapping personal insults such as "dotard" and "little rocket man" and the North conducted its six and most powerful nuclear test, as well as firing missiles over Japan. Trump vowed to rain down "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if it threatened the US but instead in Singapore it was compliments that flowed, as the president described Kim as "talented" and said they had forged a "special bond." After a day filled with smiles and handshakes watched around the world, the US "committed to provide security guarantees" to North Korea. But critics charged that the summit legitimised Kim, whose regime has been accused of multiple human rights abuses, and said the summit was more about headlines than substantive progress. Trump said the US would be checking Kim's progress towards denuclearisation "very strongly" but many agreements made in the past with North Korea have later fallen apart. World powers from China to Japan, the European Union and Russia welcomed its outcome -- while cautioning it was only the first step towards resolving the nuclear stand-off with Pyongyang. But some media in Japan, which North Korea has in the past threatened to "sink into the sea", were cautious. "The real bargaining has now started between the US and North Korea. Problems that cannot be solved through a bling-bling political show remain on both sides," said the liberal Mainichi Shimbun. Kim says denuclearisation dependent on ceasing antagonism: KCNA Kim Jong-Un meanwhile said ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons is dependent on Washington and Pyongyang ceasing moves that antagonise each other, the North's state media said Wednesday. "Kim Jong Un said in order to achieve peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and realise its denuclearisation, the two countries should commit themselves to refraining from antagonising... each other out of mutual understanding," the state-run KCNA news agency said.

Summit with Kim helped avoid 'nuclear catastrophe', says Trump

US President Donald Trump has said "we got along right from the beginning" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.&nbsp;

The comment was made to the Voice of America's Greta Van Susteren after Trump's summit meeting with Kim on Tuesday. Trump gushed some more about Kim in the interview to VoA.&nbsp;

"Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that, but he loves his people. And I think that we have the start of an amazing deal. We’re going to denuke North Korea," Trump told Susteren.&nbsp;

Susteren of course asked Trump if he was certain about his choice of words. Did Kim really "love his people" considering how many he had starved and brutalised?&nbsp;

Trump covered for Kim by telling Susteren: &nbsp;“Look, he’s doing what he’s seen done, if you look at it. But, I really have to go by today and by yesterday and by a couple of weeks ago because that’s really when this whole thing started."&nbsp;

The "we got along right from the beginning" had come in reply to a question about whether Trump or Kim had given each other ultimatums. Trump said there hadn't been one from either side.&nbsp;

“No, not an ultimatum. We’ve been dealing for three months really and we’ve been dealing through our various representatives including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who’s done a really fantastic job. So we’ve been dealing for a pretty good period of time and when we met today, we got along right from the beginning," Trump said.&nbsp;

Commentators however have said Trump was outfoxed in Singapore. And that while Trump has put a stop to the US's military exercises with South Korea — which the commentators add will blunt US and South Korean troops' preparedness for war — North Korea has in return given very little.&nbsp;

They add that Kim might have told Trump North Korea is willing to "denuclearise" but that the country has been saying saying that since 1992.&nbsp;

Trump told Susteren American troops would continue to be stationed in South Korea but that the "war games" are going to stop because they "cost a fortune".&nbsp;

"We are going to get out of the war games that cost so much money. You know where we — cause I think number one, it’s very provocative, and I want to do it, and I think they’re very happy about it because it is so provocative. But it cost a fortune to do it. And we won’t do that as long as we are negotiating in good faith,” Trump said.&nbsp;

Trump went on to say of Kim: "I think he liked me and I like him. And I understand the past and, you know, nobody has to tell me, he’s a rough guy. He has to be a rough guy or he has been a rough person. But we got along very well. He’s smart, loves his people, he loves his country. He wants a lot of good things and that’s why he’s doing this.”

Susteren also asked Trump what he wanted to say "directly to the citizens of North Korea”.&nbsp;

“Well, I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry — you understand how I feel about chemistry. It’s very important. I mean, I know people where there is no chemistry no matter what you do you just don’t have it. We had it right from the beginning, I talked about that and I think great things are going to happen for North Korea,” Trump replied.&nbsp;

Trump made his comment to the Voice of America after his historic summit meeting with Kim. 'Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator,' Trump added

US President Donald Trump has said "we got along right from the beginning" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The comment was made to the Voice of America's Greta Van Susteren after Trump's summit meeting with Kim on Tuesday. Trump gushed some more about Kim in the interview to VoA. "Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that, but he loves his people. And I think that we have the start of an amazing deal. We’re going to denuke North Korea," Trump told Susteren. Susteren of course asked Trump if he was certain about his choice of words. Did Kim really "love his people" considering how many he had starved and brutalised? Trump covered for Kim by telling Susteren: “Look, he’s doing what he’s seen done, if you look at it. But, I really have to go by today and by yesterday and by a couple of weeks ago because that’s really when this whole thing started." The "we got along right from the beginning" had come in reply to a question about whether Trump or Kim had given each other ultimatums. Trump said there hadn't been one from either side. “No, not an ultimatum. We’ve been dealing for three months really and we’ve been dealing through our various representatives including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who’s done a really fantastic job. So we’ve been dealing for a pretty good period of time and when we met today, we got along right from the beginning," Trump said. Commentators however have said Trump was outfoxed in Singapore. And that while Trump has put a stop to the US's military exercises with South Korea — which the commentators add will blunt US and South Korean troops' preparedness for war — North Korea has in return given very little. They add that Kim might have told Trump North Korea is willing to "denuclearise" but that the country has been saying saying that since 1992. Trump told Susteren American troops would continue to be stationed in South Korea but that the "war games" are going to stop because they "cost a fortune". "We are going to get out of the war games that cost so much money. You know where we — cause I think number one, it’s very provocative, and I want to do it, and I think they’re very happy about it because it is so provocative. But it cost a fortune to do it. And we won’t do that as long as we are negotiating in good faith,” Trump said. Trump went on to say of Kim: "I think he liked me and I like him. And I understand the past and, you know, nobody has to tell me, he’s a rough guy. He has to be a rough guy or he has been a rough person. But we got along very well. He’s smart, loves his people, he loves his country. He wants a lot of good things and that’s why he’s doing this.” Susteren also asked Trump what he wanted to say "directly to the citizens of North Korea”. “Well, I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry — you understand how I feel about chemistry. It’s very important. I mean, I know people where there is no chemistry no matter what you do you just don’t have it. We had it right from the beginning, I talked about that and I think great things are going to happen for North Korea,” Trump replied.

'We got along from the beginning,' Trump says of Kim. Commentators say Trump got outfoxed

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