HANOI: US President Donald Trump said North Korea leader Kim Jong Un’s ambition to see sanctions lifted was the major obstacle to a deal.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is optimistic of a future deal being struck.
Trump says his relations with Kim remain “very warm”.
Donald Trump’s demeanour was markedly different to his optimistic tone after last year’s Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un.
“Trump looked sober, serious and disappointed. It was a very different mood from Singapore.” as per an analyst.
The US president’s declaration that he “walked away” from the talks showed he wasn’t prepared to clinch a deal at any cost, Mr King said.
“But Trump failed to mention specific details such as what part of the Yongbyon nuclear facility he offered up. Was it uranium or only plutonium?
“Trump also left the future of restarting joint US-South Korea military exercises in the air. It’s a shame he keeps on complaining about the costs of them.”
Sean King is senior vice-president of Park Strategies in New York.
