The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on March 1 that at the closed-door and extended talks at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on February 28, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump understood the significance of changing the decades-long extreme, hostile relations between the two countries.
At the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnam, both leaders lauded the significant progress in carrying out the Singapore Joint Statement and discussed the improvement of bilateral ties in a frank manner.
According to the agency, Trump and Kim listened to each other’s viewpoints on the settlement of issues, realising the target set at their first summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.
Despite unavoidable obstacles ahead, they can make substantial improvements in the DPRK-US relations if they hold hands firmly and exercise wisdom and patience, it said.
Trump and Kim laid stress on mutual respect and trust, describing them as important opportunities to better the bilateral ties.
The same day, Rodong Simun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, affirmed that Pyongyang will not give up negotiations. With images of a friendly meeting between Trump and Kim, it said that they “had a constructive and candid exchange of their opinions over the practical issues arising in opening up a new era of improvement of the DPRK-US relations on the basis of the progress”.
Although there was no joint statement at the Hanoi summit, the DPRK leader recommended the indefinite halt of nuclear and missile tests in exchange for the reduction of economic sanctions from the US. This is a positive outcome of the summit, helping maintain détente on the Korean Peninsula and the region, it said.
