NO DEAL! Trump and Kim ABANDON lunch and CANCEL signing ceremony as White House concedes that 'no agreement has been reached' in Vietnam nuclear summit talks
Donald Trump's talks with Kim Jong-un ended abruptly on Thursday with the US President saying he was forced to walk away after Kim demanded that all sanctions were lifted in return for giving up only some of his nukes.
Mr Trump told reporters that he remains on good terms with Kim and continued to tout the 'enormous potential' of North Korea, but added: 'Sometimes you have to walk away.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added: 'We have been working for weeks to find a path forward so we could make a big step at this summit.
'We made progress and even more progress when the two leaders met over the last 48, or 72 hours. 'But we didn't get all the way. We didn't get something that made sense for the United States.'.
Quizzed on what progress had been made, Trump said that Kim had agreed not to test any more missiles or nuclear bombs while talks are ongoing.
Asked whether it was premature to hold the summit now, Trump said he would 'much rather do it right than do it fast' and added that he 'could have signed something today' but didn't feel it was the right deal.
But America and North Korea remain in a position 'to do something very special' together, he said.
The recognition that no joint statement had been reached came despite weeks of advance negotiation. A range of compromise gestures had been circulating for days in media reports.
The lack of agreement came after Trump repeatedly hailed a 'special relationship' between the two men, and stressed their personal bond as a reason progress might be possible.
After the two men's historic summit in Singapore in June, they both signed a joint statement – although critics blasted it for failing to include a timetable or verification members in its undefined call for denuclearization.
On Thursday afternoon, Sanders suddenly told reporters traveling with the president before 1 pm local time that talks would wrap up within about half an hour, throwing the event's schedule into turmoil.
She declined to say initial there would be a signing ceremony, though one had been on an earlier White House schedule. Only minutes before Trump was scheduled to face the press did she acknowledge that there would not be one.
But reporters who were on hand to cover it were relocated to buses – indicating that the event was most likely scrapped.
The public White House schedule has listed a ‘Joint Agreement Signing Ceremony’ with the chairman of the state affairs commission of DPRK, set for 2:05 pm local time.
Trump was to have fielded questions at 4 pm, right before leaving Vietnam, but it got moved up to 2 pm. A planned lunch between the two men was scrapped so they could 'keep negotiating,' Bloomberg News reported.
dollar and South Korean stock market both fell on the news that no deal had been reached.
The multiple signs of tension came after a public event hours earlier where the two leaders once again smiled for the cameras – and Kim even took a few questions from U.S.
media and expressed openness toward a step in normalization of relations. The North Korean dictator said he is open to the idea of a US liaison office in Pyongyang in a major development during the historic nuclear summit with President Donald Trump.
Kim revealed his stance on the issue – one of several negotiating points in Hanoi – when the absolute leader submitted to a few unscripted questions from American media members.
In another comment, he revealed his stated disposition on denuclearization – although without saying what it would take to get him there. 'If I was not, I wouldn't be here,' he said in his native Korean, while seated alongside Trump.
The two world leaders resumed their summit in Hanoi on Thursday morning local time – as Trump predicted a 'fantastic success' but Kim said it was 'too early' to say they would reach a deal.
Trump once again asserted that he was in 'no rush' to make an agreement – following an early report by NBC that the US was prepared to back away from a demand that North Korea provide a full accounting of its nuclear weapons programs.
'I think we'll be together a lot over the years,' Trump said. 'I can't speak for today but over a little bit longer term . we're going to have a fantastic success.'.
During an exchange with the media, a reporter asked Kim if he was ready for a U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang – considered a step toward normalization of relations.
At first a North Korean aide tried to cut him off, but Trump – who has tangled with the press – intervened. 'That's actually an interesting question. I would like to actually hear that answer,' Trump said.
Kim responded: 'That is something that is welcomeable. Trump then said the idea was a 'great thing.
A reporter asked Kim in Korean if he was confident of an agreement. Kim responded in Korean: ''It's too early to say. I would not say I'm pessimistic.'. 'I have a feeling that good results will come,' Kim added.
Trump also predicted spending more time with the North Korean dictator. 'And, I'm sure over the years we'll be together a lot, and I think we'll also be together after the fact, meaning after the deal is made.
We had very good discussions last night at dinner, and the pre-dinner was very good. And, there were a lot of great ideas being thrown about,' Trump said. Trump once again called the relationship between the two men 'very strong'.
'So, I can't speak necessarily for today, but I can say that this, a little bit longer term, and over a period of time, I know we're going to have a fantastic success with respect to Chairman Kim and North Korea.
They're going to have an economic powerhouse.'. Trump predicted: 'I think it's going to be something very special.
'I am in no rush. We don't want the testing, and we've developed something very special with respect to that,' Trump said, without revealing details, as the two men moved toward an expected joint statement.
At one point after their first meeting Wednesday, the two men took a stroll by the hotel pool, with photographers ready to capture the moment.
They walked along with two interpreters beneath palm trees as Kim greeted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and general and spy chief Kim Yong Chol.
Reporters covering the event passed National Security Advisor John Bolton, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, and Trump aide Dan Scanino, who didn't appear to be joining the second meeting with staff.
Trump was back to trying his hand at diplomacy after the president's ex-fixer Michael Cohen dominated headlines with his day of bombshell testimony against his former boss.
Cohen's appearances have shadowed the president's appearances, and Trump even tweeted to attack his longtime fixer as a 'liar' shortly before he delivered bombshell testimony in the Capitol claiming Trump participated in a criminal conspiracy involving the hush payment to Stormy Daniels.
Trump and Kim met for their second time at the French colonial-era Metropole hotel, where they had dined Wednesday night.
Before they sat down, NBC reported the U.S. was no longer insisting as a negotiating position that North Korea provide a 'full accounting of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs' – which would amount to a major concession.
Trump hailed 'a very special relationship' when he met Kim in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Wednesday and said he was satisfied with the pace of talks, despite some criticism they were not moving quickly enough.
'Great meetings' and a 'Very good dialogue,' Trump said on Twitter after dinner with Kim at the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel while the White House said the two planned to sign a 'joint agreement' after further talks on Thursday.
The White House has given no indication of what the signing ceremony might involve, although the two sides' discussions have included the possibility of a political statement to declare the 1950-53 Korean War over, which some critics see as premature.
They have also discussed partial denuclearization measures, such as allowing inspectors to observe the dismantling of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor, U.S. and South Korean officials say.
U.S. concessions could include opening liaison offices or clearing the way for inter-Korean projects, but critics say Trump risks squandering vital leverage if he gives away too much, too quickly.
The Hanoi summit was Trump's second with Kim since an inconclusive meeting in Singapore in June that produced much fanfare but little substance and there had been little sign of concrete progress since.
president nevertheless appeared upbeat with Kim even as his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified at a congressional hearing in Washington, calling Trump a 'conman' who knew in advance about the release of stolen emails aimed at hurting his Democratic rival in the 2016 election campaign.
Facing mounting pressure at home over investigations into Russian meddling in the election, Trump has sought a big win by trying to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for promises of peace and development, a foreign policy goal that has confounded multiple predecessors.
Trump told Kim on Wednesday he felt the first summit was 'very successful'. 'Some people would like to see it go quicker; I´m satisfied; you´re satisfied, we want to be happy with what we're doing.'.
The leaders exchanged views at dinner with the aim of achieving comprehensive and ground-breaking results from their summit, Kim's state news agency KCNA said on Thursday. 'Sincere and in-depth views were exchanged to bring about a comprehensive and groundbreaking outcome,' it said.
The two men had met in the Vietnamese capital in front of a bank of six flags from each nation, for the first meeting for the pair since their historic summit in Singapore in June.
'It's an honor to be with Chairman Kim. It's an honor to be together,' said Trump, who repeatedly praised his counterpart.
The admiration may be mutual. In one remark, Kim praised Trump's 'courageous decision' to open dialogue, according to how his translator recounted it.
In introductory remarks, Trump did much of the talking – and one again dangled the promise of prosperity for North Korea, and addressed critics who noted their initial joint statement was vague and hard to measure.
'It's great to be with you. We had a very successful first summit,' Trump said. 'I felt it was very successful. Some people would like to see it go quicker.
I'm satisfied, you're satisfied. We want to be happy with what we're doing.'. 'I thought the first summit was a great success, I think this one hopefully will be equal or greater than the first,' the president added.
As he has repeatedly, Trump pointed to personal chemistry with the reclusive leader of the family-led one-party dictatorship – although his secretary of state says North Korea is still a nuclear threat, having tested a hydrogen bomb and months ago conducted a skein of missile tests.
'We made a lot of progress and I think the biggest progress was our relationship is really a good one,' Trump said.
Dangling economic enticements that he hopes will persuade Kim to give up nuclear weapons his nation has been developing for years, Trump said: 'I think that your country has tremendous economic potential. Unbelievable. Unlimited,' Trump said, seated across from Kim.
Both men smiled before cameras as they exchanged a handshake. A reporter asked Trump about former lawyer Michael Cohen's bombshell testimony in Congress that calls Trump a 'conman. ' Trump shook his head and didn't respond.
That may not have gone over well with the White House staff.
At a subsequent photo-op, two wire service reporters were excluded, including the one who had asked about Cohen, whose bombshell testimony touched on Stormy Daniels, a Trump Moscow tower project, and Wikileaks.
According to a statement issued by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders: 'Due to the sensitive nature of the meetings we have limited the pool for the dinner to a smaller group, but ensured that representation of photographers, tv, radio and print Poolers are all in the room.
We are continuing to negotiate aspects of this historic summit and will always work to make sure the U.S. media has as much access as possible.'.
For that event, the two men were seated at a round table with a floral centerpiece. Their meal had not yet been served. Once again, Trump talked up their bond.
'Our relationship is a very special relationship,' the president said. After Kim spoke in Korean, a translator said: 'They have exchanged very interesting dialogue with each other.
That prompted a joke from Trump. 'If you could have heard that dialogue. What you would pay for that dialogue. Then Trump stepped in again. 'We're going to have a very busy day tomorrow and we'll probably have a pretty quick dinner.'.
'And a lot of things are going to be solved I hope. It'll lead to really a wonderful situation long term. And our relationship is a very special relationship,' the president said.
Earlier Trump said: 'It's great to be with you. We had a very successful first summit. I felt it was very successful. Some people would like to see it go quicker.
I'm satisfied, you're satisfied. We want to be happy with what we're doing.'.
Complimenting their host country, Trump said: 'It's an honor to be with Chairman Kim. It's an honor to be together in really a country, Vietnam, where they've really rolled red carpet. And they're very proud to have us.'.
Minutes earlier, as they first met, the two men engaged in brief remarks, then looked ahead toward press photographers with serious expressions on their faces.