The second summit in Hanoi between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took off on a positive note. The leaders exchanged pleasantries and laid down a tentative schedule that included dinner, lunch, and a signing ceremony on some form of agreement. However, there was no progress on the talks because the duo could not find common ground on the subject of sanctions. It is a sensitive issue and the summit turned out to be a non-starter. Trump and Kim left without sharing a planned lunch that could have helped to build bridges.

CNBC reports Donald Trump called off the meet. During a post-summit news conference, he said, "We had some options, and at this time we decided not to do any of the options … Sometimes you have to walk, and this was just one of those times."

Battle of denuclearization versus sanctions

US President Donald Trump has been harping on denuclearization and he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un discussed it when they met in Singapore in June last year.

However, the modalities for its implementation had to be evolved and there were expectations that a plan of action would emerge at the Hanoi summit. Trump wants Kim to accept the possibilities of a better future for his country by abandoning his nuclear ambitions but Kim insists that easing of sanctions is his priority.

It is natural that the world would like to know if this was the end of the road and whether there will be a third summit.

There is no commitment from Donald Trump on the subject but he has kept the doors open by describing the talks as "productive." He even went on to say, "I think we'll end up being very good friends." At the beginning of the Hanoi summit, the US President had dropped hints that speed was not an important criterion. The focus must be on concluding the right deal.

Peace must return to the Korean peninsula

According to Variety, this was the second summit between Trump and Kim in less than a year. The mutually agreed venue was the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the objective was denuclearization of North Korea and a possible formal end to the Korean War. However, the proceedings ran into rough weather and the two leaders drove off in their motorcades from the hotel.

North Korea has created an infrastructure to support its nuclear programs. The country keeps testing its nuclear weapons at regular intervals and the activities are a major threat in the Korean peninsula. Therefore, the two leaders Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un met for the first time in Singapore.

While the former laid stress on denuclearization, the latter was keen to get relief from sanctions since it was hurting the economy. Therefore, the two of them met in Hanoi for the second summit to discuss sensitive issues in order to bring peace in the Korean peninsula, but it has fizzled out. Another attempt might produce the desired results.
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