Hope and confidence as the second Kim-Trump summit gets underway in Hanoi

North Korea’s leader says he will do his best to produce a "great outcome", praises the US president for his "courageous decision" to make the meeting possible in Vietnam. The two leaders will continue negotiations tomorrow. For Trump, tomorrow will be a busy day.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald J. Trump kicked off their second summit today, each expressing the hope and confidence that this week's talks will be successful.

Sitting briefly with Trump in a room at Hanoi’s Metropole Hotel, Kim said he would do his best to produce a "great outcome" that could be welcomed by everyone.

The North Korean leader praised the US president for his "courageous decision" to start the process that led to the summit in Vietnam.

He emphasised that more efforts and patience were needed than at any other time to make the summit happen.

Trump said his previous talks with Kim in Singapore eight months ago were a great success and the Hanoi meeting will "hopefully be equal to or greater than the first".

The president added that their personal relationship was the biggest progress the two countries had made and told Kim that North Korea has enormous economic potential. Trump described his relations with Kim as "special".

A few minutes earlier, the two leaders shook hands for several seconds, smiling and even laughing, in front of the flags of their countries.

After a photo-op, Kim and Trump held a one-on-one meeting with the help of their respective interpreters. A small dinner followed, involving some of their top aides.

The American delegation includes the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. North Korea’s includes Kim Yong-chol, a senior Workers' Party official, and Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho

The leaders plan to meet again to continue their negotiations on Thursday, which Trump said will be a busy day. Kim said talking with the US leader was interesting.

• vietnam
• north korea
• united states
• kim jong-un
• donald trump
• summit
• denuclearisation
• economic development
• peace