Trump in Vietnam to start summit with dinner

International Desk: US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will begin their high-profile summit on Wednesday with brief talks, followed by dinner.

They are expected to discuss a roadmap for ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons during the two-day meeting in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.

Prior to his meeting with Mr Kim, Mr Trump will meet Vietnam's prime minister and other politicians.

The pair are then scheduled to dine at Hanoi's five-star Metropole hotel.

Mr Trump tweeted in praise of the host country on Wednesday morning, writing: "Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth. North Korea would be the same, and very quickly, if it would denuclearize."

"The potential is AWESOME," he added.

Their first encounter will be a 20-minute one-on-one meeting at 18:40 local time (11:40 GMT). It will be followed by dinner with their aides, according to the White House.

The two leaders will attend a series of meetings together on Thursday, but their exact agenda is unknown.

It's expected that any major events - the signing of agreements or significant press conferences - will take place on Thursday.

North Korean state media praised Mr Kim for making the 4,000km (2,485 mile) trip, with state paper Rodong Sinmun dedicating four out of its six pages to it.

It said North Koreans had reacted to his visit with "boundless excitement and emotion", and urged people to work harder to "give him reports of victory when he returns".

Source: BBC


risingbd/Feb 27, 2019/Mukul