North Korea releases documentary on Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi

By Ngoc Dinh   March 7, 2019 | 07:08 pm PT
North Korea releases documentary on Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 28, 2019. Photo by KCNA via AFP
North Korean TV aired a documentary on the second Trump-Kim summit as well as Kim’s official visit to Vietnam.

The documentary, which includes chronological footage of Kim Jong-un’s 11-day trip to Hanoi, was aired Wednesday on North Korea Central Television, according to Japanese news channel NHK.

The 78-minute documentary depicts Kim’s train journey from North Korea, and his meetings with the U.S President Donald Trump.

The documentary focuses on the rapport between the two leaders, not highlighting the summit ending without a deal.

Experts said this signaled that North Korea was not about to turn away from negotiations.

The documentary does not mention denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, unlike a previous report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

According to KCNA, the two countries agreed to maintain close communication with each other on the issue of denuclearization of the peninsula.

The film describes amiable exchanges between the two leaders even at the summit’s conclusion, saying they had agreed to "sit face-to-face more often" and would continue "constructive dialogue".

The film also delivers the message that Washington and Pyongyang "can overcome twists and turns and ordeals and go forward if both sides make fair proposals based on principles that are mutually accepted and respected and engage in negotiations with the right attitude and willingness to resolve problems," reported Reuters.

North Korea’s broadcast of the documentary may reflect Pyongyang's willingness to maintain the dialogue mood with Washington, South Korean News Agency Yonhap commented.

The film also notes that "the efforts and measures made by the two sides to reduce tension and build peace on the Korean peninsula had a great meaning in fundamentally shifting the decades-long relationship of mistrust and hostility," reported Yonhap.

It shows scenes of U.S President Donald Trump greeting North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and Vice Chairman of Central Committee of Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong-chol.

The documentary includes Kim’s official visit to Vietnam, and carries footage of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung meeting Ho Chi Minh when he visited Vietnam in 1958 and 1964.

It also shows Kim Jong-un being welcomed by many Vietnamese people at various places along the way.

Kim Jong-un was the first North Korean leader to visit Vietnam in the last 55 years.

The second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, held February 27-28 in Hanoi, ended without an agreement. After the summit, Kim Jong-un paid a two-day official visit to Vietnam starting March 1.

 
 
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