- The magic of first time could not be replicated
By Suresh Somu
Hanoi. 28 February 2019. After yesterday night’s warmth between the two leaders the collapse of talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed suddenly. It was evident that all was not OK when a US representative came to announce to the media that the joint press conference has got advanced to 2PM Hanoi time from 4PM. Speculation was that either the discussion has gone tremendously well or broken down.
When the two leaders came to the venue both were serious and a few hours later the signing ceremony was cancelled and the official lunch left uneaten at the Metropole Hotel. Both went back to their respective hotels with just a short statement each to the media waiting.
The second summit between the two leaders ended in failure as there was no agreement between them in disarmament and sanctions relief. There has been no announcement for a third summit, but the US has expressed willingness to continue talks at a lower level.
Trump said the deal broke down because Kim wanted sanctions lifted in their entirety . Kim, who spoke through an interpreter, to the media on entering had said that he was willing to consider “denuclearizing. “If I’m not willing to do that, I wouldn’t be here right now,” he said.
But eventually they could not replicate the magic of the first time and Trump in a parting shot said “Chairman Kim and myself, we want to do the right deal. Speed is not important.”
