HANOI: President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dove into the details of nuclear negotiations Thursday amidst speculations about what Kim will give up what and Trump may demand.
Trump is not in a mood to make decisions in haste. “Speed is not important,” Trump said. “What’s important is that we do the right deal,” Trump said.
Accompanied only by translators, the unlikely pair — a 72-year-old billionaire and a 35-year-old reclusive autocrat — displayed a familiarity with one another as they began the day’s negotiations.
After a 40-minute private meeting, the leaders went for a stroll on the Hotel Metropole’s lush grounds, chatting as they walked by a swimming pool before being joined by aides to continue talks, reported news agencies.
Possible outcomes could include a peace declaration for the Korean War that the North could use to eventually push for the reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea, or sanctions relief that could allow Pyongyang to pursue lucrative economic projects with the South.
Skeptics say such agreements would leave in place a significant portion of North Korea’s nuclear-tipped missiles while robbing the United States of its negotiating leverage going forward. Asked if this summit would yield a political declaration to end the Korean War, Trump told reporters on Wednesday: “We’ll see.”
(Agencies)
Comment