N. Korean leader thanks Vietnam for welcoming him

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese people for a warm welcome upon his arrival in the country on Tuesday for a summit with US President Donald Trump, a local news outlet reported."I had gone through a journey of more than 3,000 kilometers to Vietnam and thank the country for a warm and enthusiastic welcome," (Yonhap)Kim was quoted as telling Mai Tien Dung, minister of the Vietnamese Government Office, who greeted him at the Dong Dang train station, according

Feb. 26, 2019

North Korea calls for unconditional ties with South

A North Korean propaganda outlet urged South Korea on Tuesday to separate inter-Korean relations from denuclearization issues, a day ahead of the second meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.Voicing dissatisfaction over slow progress in building ties between South and North Korea, Meari blamed Seoul for dealing with inter-Korean relations within the framework of sanctions by linking ties to Pyongyang’s denuclearization. In this April 27, 2018 file photo, N

Feb. 26, 2019

Kim Jong-un may visit N. Korean embassy: source

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to visit the country's embassy in Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon, multiple diplomatic sources here said.Local police have become suddenly busy in controlling traffic near the embassy, a source said. (Yonhap)Kim arrived in the Vietnamese capital earlier in the day, wrapping up a nearly 70-hour train and road journey from Pyongyang."There's a possibility that he will visit the North Korean Embassy at around 5 p.m.," another source said.He may also meet with

Feb. 26, 2019

[Feature] NK claims of denuclearization steps so far need to be verified

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to negotiate their respective offers when they meet Wednesday and Thursday, with both sides expressing a commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. While speculation is rampant as to what might be on the negotiating table, Washington is expected to try to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile programs and facilities. In return, analysts say, the communist regime is likely to demand measures to

Feb. 26, 2019

Kim arrives ahead of Hanoi summit

HANOI, Vietnam -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday, ahead of official summit events set to kick off the following day. Kim arrived at the Melia Hanoi Hotel at about 11 a.m. (Vietnam time), while US President Donald Trump was expected to arrive later in the day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves at Dong Dang Railway Station in Vietnam on Tuesday. YonhapThe two leaders are set to begin their two-day summit with a private meeting and dinner Wednesday. According to the

Feb. 26, 2019

N. Korean leader arrives at Hanoi hotel

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Hanoi by car Tuesday on the eve of his summit with US President Donald Trump.It took about two hours for him to reach the five-star Melia hotel in the Vietnamese capital from a train station in the border down of Dong Dang. Earlier in the day, he wrapped up a 66-hour train trip from Pyongyang across China. (Yonhap)He is scheduled to meet with Trump on Wednesday and Thursday. (Yonhap) 

Feb. 26, 2019

Pompeo arrives in Vietnam for N. Korea summit

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, hailing the upcoming second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as an "important opportunity" for denuclearization and peace.Pompeo traveled to Hanoi on his own official aircraft, separate from Air Force One, and landed hours before Trump's scheduled arrival. (Yonhap)"Made it to Vietnam for President @realDonaldTrump's #HanoiSummit with the DPRK," Pompeo tweeted, referring to North Korea by its

Feb. 26, 2019

Kim will not be sharing Hanoi hotel with White House reporters

The possibility of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sharing a Hanoi hotel with the White House press corps covering this week's summit with US President Donald Trump failed to materialize, as the filing center for the American reporters will be relocated.Kim is likely to stay at the Melia Hanoi hotel in the city center during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation for his second summit with US President Donald Trump slated for Wednesday and Thursday. The hotel has notified guests of the operatio

Feb. 26, 2019

AP Explains: What everyone wants at the Trump-Kim summit

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will likely be all smiles as they shake hands later this week in Hanoi for a meeting meant to put flesh on what many critics call their frustratingly vague first summit in Singapore. But behind the grins is a swirl of competing goals and fears. In addition to the two main players, China, South Korea and Japan also have deep interests in what Trump and Kim can hammer out in Vietnam, including the biggest question of

Feb. 26, 2019

Kim Jong-un arrives in Vietnam for summit with Trump

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday for a second summit with US President Donald Trump, after traveling for more than 60 hours by train all the way from Pyongyang through China.Kim's armored train made a stop at the Dong Dang station near the border with China around 8:10 a.m.(YTN)After stepping off the train in a black Mao-style suit, Kim shook hands with officials and slowly walked out of the station, beaming a smile and waving to school kids. Kim soon headed to the c

Feb. 26, 2019

Trump, Kim may declare end of Korean War: Cheong Wa Dae

The US and North Korea could reach an agreement to declare an end to seven decades of war on the Korean Peninsula during the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. “I believe the possibility is open. There is no way of knowing what kind of a declaration it might be, but I believe the US and North Korea may reach an agreement on the declaration of the war’s end at any degree,” Cheong Wa Da

Feb. 25, 2019

Why is Kim taking 60-hour train trip?

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is on his way to Hanoi, Vietnam, for his second summit with US President Donald Trump this week. While every movement of the isolated communist leader is a subject of attention, questions have been raised as to why Kim has chosen a 60-hour train ride, over a plane journey that would take just three or four hours.Kim started off on his long train trip Saturday afternoon, departing from Pyonngyang’s train station at around 4:30 p.m. If Kim were to take the train all

Feb. 25, 2019

US, NK head into 2nd summit with hopes for concrete results

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to meet for their second time Wednesday, feeding hopes and trepidations for the future of the Korean Peninsula.With the two having agreed to seek complete denuclearization of the peninsula and build bilateral relations anew in the first summit on June 12 last year, the upcoming meeting is expected to focus on more specific issues.  Vietnamese officials stand facing a sign installed for the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Sun

Feb. 25, 2019

North Korea urges US to take reciprocal approach for “mutually beneficial” summit

North Korea’s commitment to denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged, a propaganda outlet for the North said Monday, days ahead of a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.“As the June 12 joint declaration declared, it is our republic’s unchanged stance to build new relations between the two countries, establish lasting and solid peace on the Korean Peninsula and move toward complete denuclearization,” Pyongyang’s

Feb. 25, 2019

Trump to stay two nights in Hanoi: Vietnam

US President Donald Trump plans to make a three-day trip to Vietnam this week for his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and meetings with top Vietnamese leaders, the Vietnamese government announced Monday. (Yonhap)Trump is scheduled to land at Noi Bai International Airport at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday (local time), the eve of his talks with Kim.The following day, he plans to have back-to-back meetings with General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xua

Feb. 25, 2019

Kim's train runs in inland China for summit with Trump

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special train passed the Chinese central town of Wuhan on Monday on its way to Hanoi for his summit with US President Donald Trump later this week, a source said.The train passed Wuhan around 7 a.m. and is now running south, according to the source in Beijing. (Yonhap)"Signs were detected that Kim's special train was passing (Wuhan) early in the morning, such as the blocking of the Wuhan Changjiang Bridge," the source said.Though it is still unclear which route

Feb. 25, 2019

US, N. Korea may agree on end-of-war declaration at Hanoi summit: Cheong Wa Dae

The United States and North Korea may agree on how to declare an end to the Korean War at the upcoming meeting of their leaders, a senior official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday."I believe the possibility is open. There is no way of knowing what kind of a declaration it might be, but I believe the United States and North Korea may reach an agreement on the declaration of war's end at any degree," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a daily press briefing. (Yonh

Feb. 25, 2019

NK leader's train heads south without stopping in Beijing

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special train passed the northeastern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday, sources said, after departing from Pyongyang the previous day for Hanoi for a summit with US President Donald Trump.The train, which left Pyongyang Railway Station around 5 p.m. on Saturday, crossed into the Chinese border city of Dandong about 9:30 p.m. before reaching Tianjin around 1 p.m. on Sunday, a source in Beijing said on condition of anonymity.(Yonhap)"From Jiefang Bridge, Cha

Feb. 25, 2019