This afternoon, Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim will sign a joint statement in Hanoi.
The White House said Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim will sign a joint agreement on the afternoon of February 28. The US president will then hold a press conference.
After US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un concluded the first working day of their summit in Hanoi, both expressed optimism about the goal of achieving peace and moving towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
According toNikkeiDespite the optimism expressed by the two leaders, many experts remain skeptical that the summit will lead to a significant breakthrough in the process of "complete denuclearization", which Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim promised at their first meeting in Singapore.
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| Historic handshake in Hanoi between US President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong Un |
Overcoming challenges
President Trump remains eager to push forward with nuclear talks. Asked at dinner last night whether he would back down from his promise to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, Trump simply replied: "No."
As soon as Mr Trump and Mr Kim arrived at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi, they shook hands in front of the US and North Korean flags. The US president then told the North Korean leader that he hoped things “will work out”, adding that “our relationship is a very special relationship”.
Mr Kim said that in the 261 days since their first meeting in Singapore, "we have overcome distrust, misunderstanding and old hostile habits".
"That period tested our interest (in the country), the efforts we made and our patience, (tested) more than any other time. Now that we are meeting here today, I am sure we will achieve good results and I will do my best to make it happen," the North Korean leader said.
Some experts believe Mr. Trump wants to be seen as having achieved some success from this summit, and may propose formally declaring an end to the Korean War in exchange for Mr. Kim promising to destroy the Yongbyon nuclear complex, along with continuing to halt nuclear and missile testing.
When a reporter asked about making a declaration ending the Korean War, the US president did not deny the possibility and said: "We'll see."
Mr Trump also offered a positive vision for the isolated nation. "I think your country has tremendous, unbelievable, limitless economic potential. I think you're going to have a great future... I look forward to seeing that happen, and helping that happen," the US president told the North Korean leader.
The two leaders met privately for 20 minutes, followed by a dinner with aides that lasted about an hour and a half. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney accompanied Mr. Trump, while Vice Chairman of the North Korean Workers' Party Kim Yong Chol and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho were at Mr. Kim's side at the dinner.
Mixed emotions
Before the Singapore meeting, Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump had attacked each other over North Korea's nuclear program, but now Mr. Trump said he had a "very, very beautiful friendship" with Mr. Kim.
Before meeting Mr. Kim in Hanoi, Mr. Trump tweeted: "Vietnam is one of the few places in the world that is thriving. North Korea can be the same, and very quickly, if it denuclearizes. The prospects are GREAT, a tremendous opportunity, like none other in history, for my friend Kim Jong Un. We will know soon, very exciting!"
However, nuclear talks have been deadlocked since last June as the two sides have struggled to agree on many issues, even the definition of denuclearization, according to senior US administration officials.
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| US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands before their one-on-one meeting at the second US-North Korea Summit, Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam February 27, 2019 |
Experts say that if Mr. Trump declares an end to the Korean War, it will only slow down North Korea's denuclearization process, while Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal continues to pose a threat to neighboring countries.
The Hanoi summit was greeted with mixed emotions across the region, a mix of hope and skepticism. South Korean President Moon Jae-in enthusiastically supported the personal diplomacy between Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim, while Tokyo worried about the possibility that Mr. Trump might sacrifice the interests of Washington’s regional partners for a quick deal.