Donald Trump hails Kim Jong-un as a ‘great leader’ with a ‘tremendous future’ as the pair shake hands at second summit
The US President earlier left Hanoi's JW Marriott Hotel flanked by bodyguards and aides for the much-heralded talks with his "friend".
Trump told reporters he and Kim had a “great relationship” adding he thinks the summit will be “very successful” possibly “even greater” than their first meeting last year.
“I think that your country has tremendous economic potential,” the US President told the North Korean leader.
“And I think that you will have a tremendous future with your country, a great leader, and I look forward to watching it happen, and helping it to happen, and we will help it to happen.”
Following Trump’s comments, Kim said “a lot of obstacles” had to be overcome for the summit to take place but he is “confident there will be a good result”.
He went on to say the past few months had required a lot of patience and effort and described the summit as a “courageous decision” by Trump.
"Now that we're meeting here again like this, I'm confident that there will be an excellent outcome that everyone welcomes, and I'll do my best to make it happen," Kim said.
Trump and Kim then headed to dinner, the US leader accompanied by secretary of state Mike Pompeo and his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
SWEET TALKING TRUMP
Kim brought the vice chairman of the Worker’s Party of Korea Kim Yong Chol and the minister of foreign affairs Ri Yong Ho.
The US tycoon earlier took to Twitter in a new bid to sweet-talk Kim into giving up Pyongyang’s controversial nuclear arsenal.
Trump said he believed North Korea had all the potential to thrive just like the summit's host country Vietnam.
“Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth. North Korea would be the same, and very quickly, if it would denuclearise,” he wrote.
“The potential is AWESOME, a great opportunity, like none other in history, for my friend Kim Jong-un. We will know fairly soon – very interesting!
He later hit back at his critics while vowing he would work hard to strike a deal with Kim over his nukes within the next 48 hours.
Trump and Kim were due to meet at 6.30pm local time (11.30am UK time) at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel.
They will have a brief one-on-one meeting before joining top aides for a banquet dinner.
The talks will then continue throughout Thursday.
Analysts expect Kim to accede to a further curtailment of his nuclear ambitions, but the talks are unlikely to secure full disarmament.
Kim is expected to stay in Vietnam until Saturday, making it his longest foreign trip as leader.
He has previously stayed in China for four days, including travel time.
It is rare for a North Korean leader to be absent from his country for such a long period.
While Trump held a series of meetings with his Vietnamese hosts, Kim remained at his hotel while his officials toured scenic Halong Bay.
The leaders first met in Singapore last June, but no agreement was met on moves for North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal.
Trump arrived late in the capital on Tuesday in Air Force One after a long flight that included refuelling stops in England and Qatar.
CHINA'S PEACE HOPES
His arrival came after despot Jong-un reached Vietnam in the early hours of yesterday morning having travelled to the city by train.
Grinning broadly, the dictator stepped off an armoured carriage before being driven to the capital, Hanoi, in a bulletproof Mercedes limo.
Trump has predicted it will be a “very productive summit” which will kick off with today's private dinner.
He tweeted: "Heading over to Vietnam for my meeting with Kim Jong Un. Looking forward to a very productive Summit."
Trump has praised Pyongyang for ceasing middle tests and has appeared to ease up on demanding a timeline for disarmament.
Kim is expected to ask for relief from crushing US sanctions.
China is now urging North Korea and the US to "meet each other halfway" in talks between Kim and President Trump starting Wednesday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China hopes that the talks will achieve denuclearisation and lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula.
He said to achieve those goals, North Korea and the US should fully understand each other's legitimate concerns and "meet each other halfway."
"Legitimate concerns" is a reference to North Korea's call for security guarantees from the US.
Following a historic first meeting in Singapore in June, the world will be looking for concrete progress in stopping North Korea’s nuclear programme.
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