Trump and Kim meeting ends without agreement

(Patria) - The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un concluded in Hanoi on Thursday without an agreement, the White House announced.

"An agreement was not reached," the White House stated, adding that meetings will continue in the future, reports Al Jazeera.

Trump told reporters that the US would not sign any agreement with North Korea and announced the continuation of US sanctions against the country.

"They wanted the sanctions to be completely lifted, but we couldn't agree to that. We will continue to work on it. All sanctions remain. I am a very good friend of Kim and North Korea, they have a lot of potential, but I didn't think it was wise to sign anything now," Trump said.

 

Photos from moments ago: President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un meeting in Hanoi. pic.twitter.com/cWQNOLVecK

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 27, 2019

 

He confirmed that Kim promised him that, "regardless of anything, he will not conduct nuclear tests."

Explaining the reasons for the break in the meeting, Trump stated that the North Korean leader demanded the complete lifting of sanctions.

"They wanted the sanctions lifted entirely, but we couldn't do that... we had to leave," Trump told reporters after the US-North Korean talks broke down.

According to him, "they felt it was not good to sign anything.".

"Sometimes you have to walk away, and this was one of those times," Trump said.

The US President said that Kim was willing to give up some North Korean nuclear facilities, "but not the ones the US was asking for.".

"In return, we couldn't lift all the sanctions," Trump said.

Earlier, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders announced that "no agreement was reached, but their teams hope for future meetings.".

"The two leaders discussed various ways of denuclearization and economic concepts," she added.

Trump and Kim had a series of talks scheduled for Thursday at the Metropole Hotel, which were supposed to conclude with a "joint signing ceremony of an agreement," although it was not announced what exactly was to be signed.

Both leaders left the negotiation venue without the planned joint lunch and went to their respective hotels.

Al Jazeera reporter Kimberly Halkett reports that the summit was "effectively cut short.".

"The agreement that was expected, the statement that was expected to emerge from this summit, was not adopted. This is very significant and does not bode well in terms of the outcome," Halkett reported.

Earlier, the North Korean leader, responding to a question from foreign journalists for the first time, stated that talks with the US President on nuclear issues could yield good results.

He also said he was "willing" to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and welcomed the idea of the US opening a liaison office in Pyongyang.

"If I wasn't willing to do that, I wouldn't be here," Kim replied when reporters asked him if he was ready for denuclearization.

"Good answer. That might be the best answer you've ever heard," Trump added.

"It's too early to make predictions, but I wouldn't say I'm pessimistic," the North Korean leader replied to a question from a Washington Post reporter about the possible outcome of the summit with Trump.

"At this moment, it really seems to me that the results will be good," Kim added at a brief press briefing with reporters at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel.

US President Donald Trump praised the relationship with the North Korean leader, repeating several times that "there is no reason to rush.".

"Speed is not important to me... What's important is that we reach the right agreement," Trump said.

"I am very glad there will be no testing," Trump emphasized, referring to North Korea's pause in testing nuclear and intercontinental missiles since 2017.

He also reiterated that North Korea, in his opinion, can be an "economic powerhouse" if the two sides reach an agreement. He also considers the idea of opening a US office in Pyongyang to be "a big deal.".

Meanwhile, the North Korean agency KCNA reported that Kim and Trump had a "frank and thorough discussion to pave the way for comprehensive and substantial results of their second meeting.".

Reporters were interested in whether the two leaders also discussed human rights, given that North Korea has been accused by international organizations of mistreating its citizens, but Trump only replied: "We are discussing everything.".