U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the start of their talks at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel on February 27. [REUTERS / Yonhap Photo]
HANOI -- U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un kicked off their historic second summit in Vietnam, eight months after they forged a monumental agreement to work together for complete denuclearization and build a lasting peace regime on the Korean peninsula.
The meeting began when Trump and Kim shook hands and exchanged warm greetings before posing together for photographers against the backdrop of U.S. and North Korean flags at the entrance to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel.
Clad in a May-style suit, Kim put on a stern face as he walked toward Trump for a handshake. "I think it will be very successful. With this relationship, I think this will be very successful," Trump said after putting his left hand on Kim's back.
Before walking into a dining hall, the two leaders engaged in a short conversation, showing friendly body languages. Trump held his hand out to touch Kim's elbow from time to time.
"We want to be happy with what we are doing, but I thought the first summit was a great success and this one, hopefully, will be equal or greater than the first. We made a lot of progress. I think the biggest progress was our relationship. It is really a good one," Trump said.
Trump extolled North Korea's economic potential, saying it would have a "tremendous" future under Kim's great leadership. "I think your country has tremendous economic potential. Unbelievable, unlimited. I think you will have a tremendous future with your country."
"You are a great leader. And I look forward to watching it happen and helping to happen. And we will help it happen," the showy American leader said, drawing an awkward smile from the young leader who has consolidated his power with a reign of terror while pushing adamantly for the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Kim said he had made a long trip to Hanoi by getting over distrust, misunderstanding and hostility. "There have been distrust and misunderstanding all around. Such hostile old practices tried to block our way, but we walked together again into Hanoi by overcoming and pulled them all over."
"I think it seemed to be a period when more trouble, effort, and perseverance were needed than ever," the North Korean leader said, expressing confidence that "great" results for everyone would be made in Hanoi.
There has been an apparent discord over how to realize denuclearization. Washington was quick and complete steps to remove North Korean nuclear weapons and facilities. Pyongyang's top priority has been its regime security and if possible, a non-aggression accord and diplomatic normalization, which have been a long-standing demand since the two sides fought against each other during the 1950-53 Korean War.
In an amicable pre-summit message, Trump urged Kim to look at Vietnam's dramatic rise through economic reforms and said the isolated country has a great opportunity and "awesome" potential if it abandons a nuclear program.
U.S. President Donald Trump sits next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inside a dining hall at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel on February 27.[REUTERS / YONHAP PHOTO ]
Under its Doi Moi reform policy initiated in 1986 at the height of an economic crisis, Vietnam opened its economy to capitalism, normalized relations with the United States in 1995 and became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007. As a result, Vietnam's gross domestic product soared to $224 billion in 2017.
Trump wants North Korea to follow the footsteps of Vietnam in recharging its moribund economy that prompted Kim to select a peace offensive over apocalyptic threats with nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles.
"We want denuclearization, and I think he'll have a country that will set a lot of records for speed in terms of an economy," the American leader said in an earlier message, suggesting the Hanoi summit would provide a good chance for North Korea to rebuild its tattered economy.
Kim's diplomatic offensive that eased high tensions sparked speculation that North Korea may come out of its decades-long isolation to open up for economic development and cooperation with the international community.
With his emphasis on the principle of mutually recognizing and respecting each, Kim has said he would move step by step to denuclearization. In his New Year message, he warned he would find a new way if Washington misjudges his patience and clings to sanctions without reciprocating proactive steps for denuclearization.
At an inter-Korean summit in September last year, Kim offered to permanently dismantle facilities for ballistic missile launches and engine testing in the Sohae space center, which has played an important role in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. U.S. officials have urged North Korea to take further steps.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
