INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with the US president saying he will push for Korean denuclearization.Shortly before
his departure from the White House, Trump spoke optimistically about what he expected would be a "very tremendous summit," adding that "we
want denuclearization" on the Korean peninsula.He fleshed out his approach with a tweet, saying: "With complete Denuclearization, North
Korea will rapidly become an Economic Powerhouse
Without it, just more of the same."Trump last met Kim eight months ago in their historic talks in Singapore, where the two signed a largely
symbolic joint agreement.At a White House event Sunday, Trump appeared to temper any expectations of a major breakthrough at the follow-up
in Hanoi, saying sanctions imposed over Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests would remain."The sanctions are on
But we have a special feeling and I think it will lead to something very good
Maybe not," Trump said."I don't want to rush anybody
I just don't want testing
As long as there's no testing, we're happy."Pyongyang insists it has already taken such steps, by not testing ballistic missiles or nuclear
weapons for more than a year, and blowing up the entrances to its atomic test site.But at the same time, North Korea says it has completed
the development of its arsenal and the facilities are no longer needed.At Joint Base Andrews near Washington, Trump boarded Air Force One,
turning to deliver a crisp wave before the presidential jet departed at 12:34 pm (1734 GMT) bound for a Wednesday-Thursday summit in
Hanoi.Arrival in the Vietnamese capital is expected Tuesday evening local time.His departure came as an armored train carrying Kim Jong Un
and members of his delegation trundled southward through China to Vietnam, in a journey cloaked in secrecy.At last June's summit the two
leaders signed a joint agreement in which their countries committed to work towards "a complete denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula."But the lack of progress since then has drawn criticism that the leaders were only after headlines and short-term gains.(Except
for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
