There is no urgency to secure a denuclearization agreement with North Korea, said President Trump.
“Speed is not important,” Trump said in Vietnam on Thursday during his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “What’s important is that we do the right deal.”
Looking ahead, Trump predicted “over a period of time we’re going to have a fantastic success” and said he expects North Korea to become an “economic powerhouse” — adding that he was looking forward to helping North Korea move in that direction.
But Kim was more cautious. When pressed by David Nakamura of the Washington Post about whether he was confident about a deal, Kim said he isn’t “pessimistic” and believes the negotiations will render “good results.”
“It’s too early to tell, but I wouldn’t say I’m pessimistic. For what I feel right now, I do have a feeling that good results will come out,” Kim said after multiple reporters threw him questions.
Trump, who said in September that he and Kim “fell in love” the last time they met, also reiterated that he has a “very strong” relationship with Kim.
“When you have a good relationship, a lot of good things happen,” Trump said.
Trump is in Hanoi, Vietnam, negotiating with Kim as he works to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders met in June 2018, at which time they signed a declaration to “work toward complete denuclearization” of the Peninsula and work toward “a lasting and stable peace regime.”
Thursday’s brief press gaggle came after only one print member of the press was permitted in the room as Trump and Kim dined hours earlier. Wire services including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg were barred from the dinner, although cameras were permitted.
Journalists’ access was reportedly limited because Kim doesn’t like shouted questions from the press and the White House press secretary cited the “sensitive nature” of the meeting when announcing the decision.
