US President Trump and Kim Jong-un have failed to reach a new agreement on the dismantling of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. The leaders broke off the negotiations prematurely Thursday afternoon.
“We felt it was not the right time to sign something,” Trump said at his press conference. “We had plenty of options, but sometimes you have to run away.” According to Trump, the North Koreans wanted all economic sanctions to go wrong. In return, they were willing to give up the nuclear complex at Yongbyon.
“But that’s not enough,” said Trump. “We know that there is another complex where uranium can be enriched.” According to Trump, he and Kim split up in proper consultation. Diplomats from both countries will continue negotiations shortly.
The failure of the summit is remarkable, as delegations from both countries met in Hanoi last week to prepare an agreement. During the meeting, the atmosphere between Trump and Kim seemed excellent. Trump praised the “good relationship” with the North Korean leader on Thursday morning.
“The relationship is just very good, and when you have such a good relationship, a lot of good things can happen.” Trump also said that during dinner on Wednesday night “lots of good ideas went”.
On Thursday morning, Trump and Kim met for the final negotiations on the text of the agreement. Then the two leaders would have a working lunch, but it was cancelled at the last minute. The Trump press conference was brought forward by two hours. At the time when Trump and Kim would have the planned ‘drawing ceremony’, the American president spoke to the press.
The news caused a negative shock wave on the South Korean stock exchange. The South Korean government hoped to expand (economic) cooperation with North Korea just after the summit.
At the start, Trump stressed that North Korea’s disarmament process should not be rushed. “From the beginning, I have said that speed is not essential to me.
I appreciate that the tests with nuclear missiles have stopped, “Trump told some of the White House reporters who were allowed to attend the meeting. “We just want to close the right deal.” Since November 2017, North Korea has no longer launched test missiles.
The top in Hanoi had to produce concrete results, Trump had said beforehand. At the last meeting in Singapore, eight months ago, good intentions were pronounced. There was no practical elaboration, and in the months that followed diplomats from both countries could not agree on follow-up steps.
Four agreements were made in Singapore: North Korea will “work on complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”; the US and North Korea are going to improve their (diplomatic) relations; both countries are striving for a peace treaty to end the Korean war (1950-1953) formally; and North Korea is helping the US to repatriate the remains of American soldiers from North Korea.