Trump-Kim working lunch cancelled; joint signing ceremony might be off as well: Reports

Hanoi, Feb 28: Did the much-publicised second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi hit a wall?

According to reports, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told the media that the scheduled working lunch between the two leaders on Thursday, February 28, was called off. Even the joint signing ceremony which was scheduled to be held later in the day could be off the table.

Negotiations between the two sides were set to be wrapped up in the next half an hour, Sanders said, and Trump was scheduled to return to his hotel for a press conference at 2 pm local time (12.30 pm IST).

Sanders did not divulge details about the fate of the signing ceremony which was scheduled for 2 pm local time.

According to a CNN report, South Korea's stock market took a sudden dip after the news of potential difficulties at the summit broke though it made some quick recovery later.

BREAKING: Bad signs coming in from #HanoiSummit. @PressSec says negotiations wrapping up, @realDonaldTrump will head to solo press conference. Unlikely there will be any signing ceremony.

— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) February 28, 2019

The morning though didn't show the day as both Trump and Kim expressed optimism over Thursday's schedule when the two were scheduled to discuss the issue of denuclearisation. Trump said he was in no rush over the deal while Kim looked forward to a "wonderful dialogue". On Wednesday, February 27, the two leaders showered praises on each other with Trump hailing "a very special relationship" with Kim and North Korea.

On Thursday, the two leaders also took some questions from the media before continuing with the expanded meeting involving key aides. Reiterating his willingness to abandon nuclear arsenal, Kim said: "I wouldn't be here if I was not". Trump was extremely pleased to hear the reply and said: "That's a good answer. Wow. That might be the best answer you've ever heard."