Kim Jong-un: If I Were Not Seeking Denuclearization, I Would Not Be Here

Leaders of the United States and North Korea have begun the second day of their negotiations regarding new agreements for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Donald Trump emphasized at the start of the meeting that he is 'not in a hurry' to reach a final agreement, while Kim Jong-un stated that he will put in 'all his efforts to achieve a positive outcome.' The North Korean leader also told reporters, 'If I were not seeking denuclearization, I would not be here.' Trump then added, 'This is probably the best answer you have heard so far.' Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, who had a brief meeting the previous day and dined together with two of their ministers and advisors, are now entering detailed discussions on the denuclearization of North Korea. It is expected that the two sides will participate in a signing ceremony for a new agreement after a working lunch. Following that, the U.S. President is scheduled to hold a press conference with the media and answer journalists' questions. North Korean state media reported on March 9 that Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump had a 'sincere and deep' exchange during dinner on the night of March 8 in Hanoi. The official Korean news agency stated that Trump and Kim expressed happiness about the progress in their relations since the Singapore summit. Official North Korean media reported that the two sides discussed ways to achieve 'comprehensive and historic' results in the upcoming negotiations in Hanoi. The second meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un comes after their first round of negotiations in Singapore did not lead to practical steps for dismantling North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Although Pyongyang has taken symbolic actions and suspended or halted some of its facilities, it has not taken significant action at important sites like Yongbyon. However, North Korea has refrained from conducting nuclear and ballistic missile tests during this period, which has been welcomed by Donald Trump. The U.S. President has repeatedly emphasized that the halt in testing is a good sign and that he is not in a hurry regarding the denuclearization of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. The U.S. President responded to a question yesterday about whether he had 'backed down' from his demand for nuclear disarmament by saying, 'No.' Kim Jong-un also stated that the leaders of the two countries have removed many obstacles in front of them to attend the second meeting. Donald Trump also tweeted that he had a very good meeting with the North Korean leader and is looking forward to continuing negotiations on Thursday.