Make-or-break summit due 11 a.m. (KST) HANOI -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to continue talks in Hanoi on Thursday, having exchanged what Pyongyang's state media called "sincere and deep" views on their denuclearization and peace efforts a day earlier.They are scheduled to meet again at 9 a.m. (11 a.m. KST) at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in the Vietnamese capital for one-on-one bilateral talks before expanding the meeting 45 minutes later to include aides and other officials, according to the White House. After holding a working lunch, the two leaders plan to sign a joint statement around 2 p.m.The contents of the "Hanoi Declaration" is the name of the game.It remains uncertain whether their deal will contain Pyongyang's plans for concrete denuclearization steps and Washington's reciprocal measures.Kim could seek to trade the shutdown of the Soviet-era Yongbyon nuclear complex for Trump's declaration of a symbolic end to the 1950-53 Korean War and some sanctions relief if possible. Speaking to reporters about the possibility of an end-of-war declaration during a WednesdayFeb 28, 2019
Trump, Kim open second nuclear summit with handshake, smiles President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off their second summit Wednesday, expressing hope and confidence that this week's talks will be successful.Sitting briefly together with Trump at a French colonial-era hotel in Hanoi, Kim said he would do his best to produce a "great outcome" to be welcomed by all people.Kim praised Trump for his "courageous decision" to initiate the summit process.For his own part, Kim said more efforts and patience were needed than at any other time to make the summit happen.U.S. President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un following a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 27, 2019. AFP-YonhapTrump said his previous talks with Kim in Singapore eight months ago were a great success and the Hanoi meeting will "hopefully be equal or greater than the first."He added their personal relationship was the biggest progress they had made and told Kim that North Korea has Feb 27, 2019
Pak Pong-ju on field survey during Kim Jong-un's absence This video footage released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Jan. 11 shows North Korea's Premier of the Cabinet Pak Pong-ju, whispering to the country's leader Kim Jong-un during a welcoming ceremony for Kim, who made his sixth trip to China to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. KCTV-Yonhap By Jung Da-min North Korea's Premier of the Cabinet Pak Pong-ju made a field survey of a pump factory and insulation factory in Anju, a city in South Pyongan Province, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Tuesday. Pak is also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission.While the country's leader Kim Jong-un is on his longest trip abroad for the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi and an official goodwill visit to Vietnam, three top officials including Kim Yong-nam, Choe Ryong-hae and Pak Pong-ju, members oFeb 27, 2019
Vietnam, host country with shades from control to reform U.S. President Donald Trump meets Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday. Reuters-YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooWith the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea in place in Hanoi, the host country has shown a big hearty welcome with a jolt of pride alongside a high level of security.Young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a lot of attention when he arrived in Hanoi, Tuesday. When he left his hotel in the afternoon to visit officials at the North Korean Embassy, the crowd outside cheered. Children at a kindergarten, founded in 1978 with assistance from the North, were seen with North Korean flags painted on their cheeks to welcome the leader. On Wednesday morning, Kim stayed in the hotel while senior officials visited the tourist destination Ha Long Bay, and the major industrial city of HaiPhong. U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Tuesday. AFP-YonhapTrump arrived late Tuesday on Air Force One, and his motorcade was greeted by streets decorated with AmericanFeb 27, 2019By Kim Ji-soo
Opposition leader raises voice against ending Korean War without South Korea Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, attends a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's main opposition party leader has voiced her objection to the possibility that the leaders of the United States and North Korea will sign a declaration during their Hanoi summit to end the Korean War (1950-53).Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, said Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should not proclaim the end of the war during their summit (Feb. 27-28) without South Korean President Moon Jae-in.“We will never accept it,” she said during a general meeting of Assembly members.“Ending the war without the confirmation of the North's complete denuclearization will only weaken the South Korea-U.S. alliance and likely lead to the pull-out of U.S. forces here.”Her remarks came after presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom mentioned such a scenario, saying Cheong Wa Dae would “welcome any form” of declaration, even if MFeb 27, 2019By Jung Min-ho
PHOTOS Heavy security keeps watchful eye on summit hot spots Vietnamese soldiers and an armored vehicle are stationed at the Melia Hanoi Hotel in the city's Tran Hung Dao district, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is staying after arriving in the city Tuesday for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump that starts Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukPassers-by watch a Vietnamese security guard monitoring the vicinity of the Melia Hanoi Hotel in the city's Tran Hung Dao district, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukPeople gesture to unseen friends as they stand in front of an armored vehicle next to the Melia Hanoi Hotel, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is staying for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukVietnamese police prepare in front of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in the city's Hoan Kiem district on Wednesday, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet later in the day to begin their second summit. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukA Vietnamese policeman on guard outside the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on WednFeb 27, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan
Unbreachable security: two leaders showcase protective armors at Hanoi summit Bodyguards stand in protective formation around a Mercedes-Benz carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, just before he gets out in front of the North Korean embassy building in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Lee Suh-yoon Human-shielded Mercedes-Benzes and bomb-proof Cadillacs rolled out onto Hanoi's streets, Wednesday, as the second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off in Vietnam's capital city.The two leaders arrived in their separate armored vehicles the day before. Kim arrived on an armor-plated train at Dong Dang railway station at the Vietnamese border at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday. Trump arrived in his Air Force One later that evening.Kim's armored Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard limousine made brief appearances on Hanoi's streets on Tuesday and Wednesday. The most striking part of Kim's motorcade was the V-shaped human formation sheathing Kim's Mercedes-Benz just before he got out or boarded. The 12 bodyguards ― all sporting crew cuts with and black suits ― were the subject of much media frenFeb 27, 2019
Three top North Korean leaders in Mao suits at Hanoi embassy North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, took time out for a photo with officials and their family members during his visit to the country's embassy in Hanoi, Tuesday. North Korea's late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un's grandfather and father, are shown in the portrait on the wall, with a background of Mount Paektu. The three leaders are in black Mao suits, symbolic costume of socialist countries in East Asia. After his two-day summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday and Thursday, Kim will make an official goodwill visit to Vietnam on March 1 and 2, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday. Kim's visit to Vietnam is the first by a North Korean leader since Kim Il-sung met North Vietnam's then President Ho Chi Minh twice in 1964. KCNA-YonhapFeb 27, 2019
PHOTOS Like grandfather, like grandson - in Hanoi Kim Jong-un and his grandfather Kim Il-sung. Korea Times file, AFPKim Il-sung, founder of North Korea and grandfather of its incumbent leader Kim Jong-un, waves to a cheering crowd during his visit to Vietnam in November 1958. Korea Times fileKim Jong-un waves after arriving at Dong Dang Railway Station on Tuesday to start his visit to Vietnam for the U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi. During his stay that continues through March 2, the younger Kim is expected to mimic aspects of his grandfather's trip by traveling to some of the locations the elder Kim visited. AFPKim Il-sung acknowledges the crowd from an open car during a welcoming street parade in Hanoi in 1958. Korea Times fileKim Jong-un waves from a luxury sedan at Dong Dang Railway Station on Tuesday. YonhapKim Il-sung walks side by side with his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam in 1958. Korea Times fileKim Jong-un leaves Dong Dang Railway Station on Tuesday. YonhapKim Il-sung, right, aboard a ferry during a visit to Vietnam's Ha Long Bay in 1964. Korea Times fileKim Il-sung visits a military museum in Hanoi in 19Feb 27, 2019
'Vietnam an example for North Korea' U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong make their way to a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 27, 2019. Reuters-YonhapPresident Donald Trump was received by Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace before a bilateral meeting between the two countries, his first formal meeting during the two-day U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi.During the meeting, Trump praised Vietnam as "an example as to what can happen" if North Korea fosters peace with the United States, stating that this is the reason why it was selected as the venue for their second summit."Vietnam is thriving and, very importantly, we have a very big dinner tonight, as you know, and meetings with North Korea, chairman Kim (Jong Un), and we both felt very good about having this very important summit in Vietnam because you really are an example as to what can happen with good thinking," he said.Trump also said he was "very proud" of Vietnam and how much it has improved economically in the year since he last visited.US President Donald Trump (C L) sFeb 27, 2019
