Washington (VNA) – The DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnam has been offto a great start, and the good relationship between US President Donald Trumpand the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un is goodfor diplomacy, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson toldFox News’ America Newsroom on February 27.
He said Trump and Kim’s personal relationship is significant to both the DPRKand Asia. However, the real test will be whether their relationship willtranslate into whether Chairman Kim would take concrete steps to dismantle someof the nuclear weapons. Also, he has doubts on the possibility that Kim willdismantle all of his nuclear weapons.
In addition, Kim wants a formal peace treaty ending the Korean War, as well asnegotiations on the presence of US troops in the Republic of Korea, he noted.
Richardson’sevaluation came following the private meeting between the two leaders onFebruary 27.
Speaking to the press in Hanoi, President Trump expressed his hope that thesummit will be very successful and stressed that he will not turn his back onthe target of denuclearization, while Kim said he has overcome many challengesto come to the summit and also hopes for the success of the summit.
After the first meeting in Singapore last year, inter-Korea economiccooperation has seen significant progress. However, their ties have been barredby international trade sanctions. Thus, besides the nuclearisation issue, theongoing summit is expected to open up an opportunity to loose sanctions,allowing the DPRK economy to take off.-VNA