Trump and Kim's Negotiations End Without Agreement: 'We Made Progress, But It's Not Enough'

Negotiations between the leaders of the United States and North Korea in Hanoi ended without a documented agreement, but the U.S. President says progress has been made. On March 9, a 'working lunch' planned for the leaders in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, was canceled, and no specific agreement was signed. Donald Trump then stated at a press conference, 'They wanted the sanctions lifted, but we can't do that right now. All the sanctions that have been imposed so far remain in place... It's not just about sanctions. They want to take actions, but those actions are not what we want.' Trump added that the North Korean leader has views that do not align with theirs. According to the U.S. President, Kim Jong-un 'promised that he would not conduct any more nuclear and missile tests.' He emphasized that further discussions will take place. The U.S. President stated that the two sides did not leave the negotiating table in a hostile manner: 'We have a good relationship. This (nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula) is an issue that has been ongoing for decades; our relationship is a warm one.' Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, also mentioned at the press conference that progress has been made, but both sides decided to end negotiations for now, as they concluded that what they wanted has not yet been achieved. The new talks between Trump and Kim took place on March 8 and 9 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The leaders of the United States and North Korea continued their second day of nuclear negotiations on Thursday, March 9, in Hanoi. Donald Trump emphasized at the beginning of this meeting that he is 'not in a hurry' to reach a final agreement, and Kim Jong-un stated that he would 'do his utmost to reach a positive outcome.' The North Korean leader also told reporters, 'If I were not seeking denuclearization, I would not have come here.' Trump and Kim had a brief meeting the previous day and dined together with two of their ministers and advisors. In recent hours, most analysts and journalists present in Hanoi expected the leaders of the two countries to sign a new agreement for taking specific practical steps. Although it was said that this agreement might not be very extensive, it could relate to important issues, such as North Korea's key nuclear facilities. Kim Jong-un, similar to previous negotiations in Singapore, did not attend the press conference, but he had answered some questions from foreign reporters in an almost unprecedented manner before the talks with Trump began on Thursday morning.