https://sg.news.yahoo.com/latest-tr...al-bilateral-meeting-030549482--politics.html
The Latest: NKorea disputes Trump account of summit collapse
Associated Press1 March 2019
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- The Latest on the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (all times local):
12:45 a.m. Friday
North Korea is disputing President Donald Trump's account of why the summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon) collapsed.
North Korea's foreign minister says the North demanded only partial sanctions relief in exchange for shuttering its main nuclear complex, and that the discussions collapsed after the U.S. demanded further disarmament steps.
Ri Yong Ho's comments during an abruptly scheduled news conference in Hanoi on Friday contradicted the explanation by Trump, who hours earlier told reporters that the North had demanded a full removal of sanctions in exchange for shuttering the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
Ri says the North was also ready to offer in writing a permanent halt of the country's nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and that Washington wasted an opportunity that "may not come again."
He says the North's position wouldn't change even if the United States offers to resume another round of dialogue.
__
8:20 p.m.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says nuclear negotiations with North Korea will resume quickly following the collapse of President Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon).
Pompeo tells reporters aboard his plane Thursday that his team will get back to work "tomorrow" although no new meetings have yet been scheduled.
Pompeo said progress was made between Trump and Kim at their talks in Hanoi but not enough to warrant signing any kind of agreement. The White House had scheduled a signing ceremony but abruptly canceled it along with a lunch when it became clear an agreement could not be reached.
Pompeo spoke as he flew to Manila from Hanoi, Vietnam, for talks with senior Philippines officials.
__
6:35 p.m.
South Korea's presidential office says U.S. President Donald Trump regretted the collapse of his nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam but expressed "firm" commitment to continue negotiations.
The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that Trump in a phone conversation with Moon discussed the details of his talks with Kim as he flew out of Vietnam.
The Blue House says Moon encouraged Trump to continue his efforts for accomplishing the "historic feat of resolving the world's last remaining Cold War rivalry." It says the leaders agreed to meet soon to discuss the nuclear issue.
Trump says he "walked away" from talks with Kim after it was clear the two sides remained at odds over ending the North's nuclear program.
Kim was asked whether he was ready to denuclearize and said, "If I'm not willing to do that I won't be here right now."
___
5:10 p.m.
The Kremlin says that talks at the U.S.-North Korean nuclear summit in Vietnam appear to have failed because the parties proved unwilling to compromise and make concessions.
Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up two hours earlier on Thursday after the parties failed to reach an agreement. Trump says the U.S. was unwilling to meet North Korea's demand to remove all U.S.-led international sanctions in exchange for the shuttering of a North Korean nuclear facility.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow is encouraged by the fact the negotiations did not break down completely. But Peskov laments the lack of "small steps" and flexibility that could have helped to achieve some progress.
Peskov says the North Korean nuclear program is a complicated issue that is "impossible to solve in one go."
___
4:55 p.m.
China says the U.S. and North Korea must "meet each other halfway" after no agreement was reached between the two countries' leaders during their nuclear summit in Vietnam.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular news briefing Thursday that the situation in the Korean Peninsula experienced a significant "turnaround" over the past year, a "hard-won result" that is worth cherishing.
Lu says the U.S. and North Korea have returned to the correct path toward a political settlement, which is "the only way out."
During his post-summit press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump called Chinese leader Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) "a highly-respected leader all over the world" who has been "very helpful" with North Korea. Trump says China is highly influential because of its high volume of trade with North Korea.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...n-question-as-hanoi-summit-abruptly-cut-short
Trump-Kim summit cut short with no deal
1 of 3
US President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un had earlier planned to sign a joint agreement at 2pm on Feb 28, 2019, following a working lunch.PHOTO: AFP
Published
Feb 28, 2019, 2:11 pm SGT
Updated
3 hours ago
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Chang May Choon
South Korea Correspondent
HANOI - The highly anticipated second summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un ended on Thursday (Feb 28) without an agreement between the two leaders, raising doubts on the direction of future talks on North Korea's nuclear programme.
Mr Trump and Mr Kim “had very good and constructive meetings in Hanoi", White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.
“The two leaders discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and economic-driven concepts. No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future," she said.
Earlier, the White House suddenly announced that the summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim would be cut short by two hours.
The two leaders, who began their talks at 10am Singapore time, were supposed to end discussions by 1pm for a working lunch.
It is not clear if the lunch proceeded as scheduled, as reporters were ushered from the dining room at the hotel before seeing the leaders and their aides.
Ms Sanders told reporters just before 2pm that Mr Trump would wrap up negotiations soon and then head back to his hotel to hold a press conference at 3pm - two hours earlier than scheduled.
Day 2 of Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi: Trump and Kim stroll across the garden
He was earlier slated to hold a joint agreement signing ceremony with Mr Kim at 3pm.
The two leaders began their day at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi from 10am with a one-on-one chat, after which they took a stroll through the hotel. They were supposed to have a chat at the poolside as well, but it was moved indoors at the last minute due to the hot and humid weather.
The room at the Metropole hotel where Mr Trump, Mr Kim and their aides were to supposed to have a working lunch. Reporters were removed from the room before seeing the leaders. PHOTO: TWITTER/DAVID NAKAMURA
The two leaders took some brief questions from the media before they continued with expanded bilateral meetings that involved key aides.
Mr Kim reiterated his willingness to abandon nuclear weapons, saying “I wouldn’t be here if I was not”.
To which Mr Trump replied: “That’s a good answer. Wow. That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard.”
Frantic setting up at the JW Marriott hotel where members of the media were led to as news broke that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's meeting was cut short. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The two leaders were also asked to comment on the possibility of opening a US liaison office in Pyongyang. Mr Kim said it would be welcomed, while Mr Trump said it was a “great thing”.
Asked if there would be a political declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, Mr Trump said: “No matter what happens we’ll ultimately have a deal that’s really good for Chairman Kim and his country."
Trump in 'no rush' for deal with Kim on summit day two
But he added that it “doesn’t mean we’re doing it in one day, in one meeting”.
Things then took a change. The summit was cut short and both leaders separately left the Metropole hotel before 2.30pm.
Mr Kim returned to the nearby Melia Hanoi hotel where he has been staying since his arrival on Tuesday, while Mr Trump made his way back to the JW Marriott hotel for the press conference.
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South Korea’s currency and stocks fell after reports of the schedule change, with the benchmark Kospi index extending losses to as much as 1.5 per cent, according to Bloomberg.
Mr Trump had earlier appeared to downplay expectations of an immediate breakthrough in nuclear talks, saying that he was in no rush to clinch a rapid deal and was content if a pause in missile testing continued, Agence France-Presse reported.
“Speed’s not that important to me,” Mr Trump said as the pair sat down for talks. "No rush. We just want to do the right deal.”
Mr Trump also said that the talks had been very productive and described his relationship with Mr Kim as "as good as it’s ever been”.
The summit was organised in Hanoi in haste after Mr Trump announced the meeting on Feb 8.
Listen to a wrap of the first Trump-Kim summit on June 12, 2018, that was held in Singapore:
The Latest: NKorea disputes Trump account of summit collapse
Associated Press1 March 2019
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- The Latest on the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (all times local):
12:45 a.m. Friday
North Korea is disputing President Donald Trump's account of why the summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon) collapsed.
North Korea's foreign minister says the North demanded only partial sanctions relief in exchange for shuttering its main nuclear complex, and that the discussions collapsed after the U.S. demanded further disarmament steps.
Ri Yong Ho's comments during an abruptly scheduled news conference in Hanoi on Friday contradicted the explanation by Trump, who hours earlier told reporters that the North had demanded a full removal of sanctions in exchange for shuttering the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
Ri says the North was also ready to offer in writing a permanent halt of the country's nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and that Washington wasted an opportunity that "may not come again."
He says the North's position wouldn't change even if the United States offers to resume another round of dialogue.
__
8:20 p.m.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says nuclear negotiations with North Korea will resume quickly following the collapse of President Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon).
Pompeo tells reporters aboard his plane Thursday that his team will get back to work "tomorrow" although no new meetings have yet been scheduled.
Pompeo said progress was made between Trump and Kim at their talks in Hanoi but not enough to warrant signing any kind of agreement. The White House had scheduled a signing ceremony but abruptly canceled it along with a lunch when it became clear an agreement could not be reached.
Pompeo spoke as he flew to Manila from Hanoi, Vietnam, for talks with senior Philippines officials.
__
6:35 p.m.
South Korea's presidential office says U.S. President Donald Trump regretted the collapse of his nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam but expressed "firm" commitment to continue negotiations.
The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that Trump in a phone conversation with Moon discussed the details of his talks with Kim as he flew out of Vietnam.
The Blue House says Moon encouraged Trump to continue his efforts for accomplishing the "historic feat of resolving the world's last remaining Cold War rivalry." It says the leaders agreed to meet soon to discuss the nuclear issue.
Trump says he "walked away" from talks with Kim after it was clear the two sides remained at odds over ending the North's nuclear program.
Kim was asked whether he was ready to denuclearize and said, "If I'm not willing to do that I won't be here right now."
___
5:10 p.m.
The Kremlin says that talks at the U.S.-North Korean nuclear summit in Vietnam appear to have failed because the parties proved unwilling to compromise and make concessions.
Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up two hours earlier on Thursday after the parties failed to reach an agreement. Trump says the U.S. was unwilling to meet North Korea's demand to remove all U.S.-led international sanctions in exchange for the shuttering of a North Korean nuclear facility.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow is encouraged by the fact the negotiations did not break down completely. But Peskov laments the lack of "small steps" and flexibility that could have helped to achieve some progress.
Peskov says the North Korean nuclear program is a complicated issue that is "impossible to solve in one go."
___
4:55 p.m.
China says the U.S. and North Korea must "meet each other halfway" after no agreement was reached between the two countries' leaders during their nuclear summit in Vietnam.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular news briefing Thursday that the situation in the Korean Peninsula experienced a significant "turnaround" over the past year, a "hard-won result" that is worth cherishing.
Lu says the U.S. and North Korea have returned to the correct path toward a political settlement, which is "the only way out."
During his post-summit press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump called Chinese leader Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) "a highly-respected leader all over the world" who has been "very helpful" with North Korea. Trump says China is highly influential because of its high volume of trade with North Korea.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...n-question-as-hanoi-summit-abruptly-cut-short
Trump-Kim summit cut short with no deal
1 of 3
Published
Feb 28, 2019, 2:11 pm SGT
Updated
3 hours ago
Facebook Twitter Email
Chang May Choon
South Korea Correspondent
HANOI - The highly anticipated second summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un ended on Thursday (Feb 28) without an agreement between the two leaders, raising doubts on the direction of future talks on North Korea's nuclear programme.
Mr Trump and Mr Kim “had very good and constructive meetings in Hanoi", White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.
“The two leaders discussed various ways to advance denuclearisation and economic-driven concepts. No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future," she said.
Earlier, the White House suddenly announced that the summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim would be cut short by two hours.
The two leaders, who began their talks at 10am Singapore time, were supposed to end discussions by 1pm for a working lunch.
It is not clear if the lunch proceeded as scheduled, as reporters were ushered from the dining room at the hotel before seeing the leaders and their aides.
Ms Sanders told reporters just before 2pm that Mr Trump would wrap up negotiations soon and then head back to his hotel to hold a press conference at 3pm - two hours earlier than scheduled.
Day 2 of Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi: Trump and Kim stroll across the garden
He was earlier slated to hold a joint agreement signing ceremony with Mr Kim at 3pm.
The two leaders began their day at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi from 10am with a one-on-one chat, after which they took a stroll through the hotel. They were supposed to have a chat at the poolside as well, but it was moved indoors at the last minute due to the hot and humid weather.
The two leaders took some brief questions from the media before they continued with expanded bilateral meetings that involved key aides.
Mr Kim reiterated his willingness to abandon nuclear weapons, saying “I wouldn’t be here if I was not”.
To which Mr Trump replied: “That’s a good answer. Wow. That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard.”
The two leaders were also asked to comment on the possibility of opening a US liaison office in Pyongyang. Mr Kim said it would be welcomed, while Mr Trump said it was a “great thing”.
Asked if there would be a political declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, Mr Trump said: “No matter what happens we’ll ultimately have a deal that’s really good for Chairman Kim and his country."
Trump in 'no rush' for deal with Kim on summit day two
But he added that it “doesn’t mean we’re doing it in one day, in one meeting”.
Things then took a change. The summit was cut short and both leaders separately left the Metropole hotel before 2.30pm.
Mr Kim returned to the nearby Melia Hanoi hotel where he has been staying since his arrival on Tuesday, while Mr Trump made his way back to the JW Marriott hotel for the press conference.
Related Story
Trump says summit with Kim ended with no agreement over North Korea's demand to lift sanctions
Related Story
Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un start talks to resolve nuclear deadlock
Related Story
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un says ready to denuclearise
Related Story
Sign up for Asian Insider newsletter
South Korea’s currency and stocks fell after reports of the schedule change, with the benchmark Kospi index extending losses to as much as 1.5 per cent, according to Bloomberg.
Mr Trump had earlier appeared to downplay expectations of an immediate breakthrough in nuclear talks, saying that he was in no rush to clinch a rapid deal and was content if a pause in missile testing continued, Agence France-Presse reported.
“Speed’s not that important to me,” Mr Trump said as the pair sat down for talks. "No rush. We just want to do the right deal.”
Mr Trump also said that the talks had been very productive and described his relationship with Mr Kim as "as good as it’s ever been”.
The summit was organised in Hanoi in haste after Mr Trump announced the meeting on Feb 8.
Listen to a wrap of the first Trump-Kim summit on June 12, 2018, that was held in Singapore: