President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abruptly ended their second summit early on Thursday and canceled a scheduled lunch and signing ceremony. Trump and Kim "had very good and constructive meetings" in Hanoi, the White House said in a statement. "No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future." While reporters were waiting for Kim and Trump to show up for lunch after a round of talks that included advisers, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was heading back to his hotel and would give a news conference two hours earlier than expected, at 2 a.m. EST.
The summit had been cordial and even friendly before its abrupt end. About an hour earlier, Trump had sounded cautiously optimistic, saying "we'll ultimately have a deal," but that "doesn't mean we're doing it in one day, in one meeting." He added there's no "rush" for North Korea to denuclearize, though "I appreciate no testing." In what's believed to be a first, Kim took questions from foreign reporters, saying through a translator that "it's too early to say" whether there will be a deal but "I would not say I’m pessimistic." Asked about denuclearization, Kim said, "If I'm not willing to do that ... I won't be here right now." "That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard," Trump said. But Trump also answered a question directed at Kim about human rights in North Korea. "We're discussing everything," Trump said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, GeorgiaSpeed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against TrumpSpeed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockadeSpeed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
-
Netanyahu makes controversial addressSpeed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortionSpeed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents caseSpeed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
