WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has said that North Korea has no economic future if it did not renounce its nuclear weapons, agencies have said.
Trump’s statement comes at a time when the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea agreed to end the joint large-scale spring military exercises.
Speaking at a Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump said that North Korea has an incredible and brilliant economic future if it made a deal. “But the North does not have any economic future if it has nuclear weapons,” agencies quoted Trump as saying.
Trump further said that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be “very, strong.”
Reports said acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart and they agreed to adapt their training programs.
KATHMANDU: Pakistan released Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a “gesture of peace” on Friday, Indian media said on Friday.
He was released through the Wagah-Attari joint check-post two days after he was captured across the Line of Control after shooting down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 jet, according to reports.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had on Thursday announced that Abhinandan would be released on Friday.
Wing Commander Abhinandan was brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore. He was handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of the Geneva Convention before bringing him to the check post. (Agencies)
North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has categorically said Pyongyang’s position will remain intact even if the US seeks further talks.
He was speaking after the Vietnam summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which ended without any agreement.
North’s Foreign Minister said they raised the issue for partial sanctions relief, not a total lifting.
However, the Trump administration says the North demanded a complete lifting of the measures.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said they will release the captured Indian pilot as a ‘gesture of peace’ on Friday.
Prime Minister Khan informed the parliament saying Pakistan was focused on de-escalation, agencies said.
Pakistan shot down a jet on Wednesday and ‘captured’ its pilot following escalating tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed region of Kashmir. (Agencies)
HANOI: US President Donald Trump has headed back to Washington, after the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal between the two sides, reports have said.
Earlier at a press conference in Hanoi, US President Donald Trump had said even as he had a “really productive time” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the US could not agree to North’s demands of lifting the sanctions entirety.
Speaking on the occasion in Vietnam, Trump said: “They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn’t do that.”
Trump, however, said he looked forward to future talks with North Korea saying, “We haven’t given up anything.” He went on to say that they (North) have “tremendous potential, unbelievable.”
Even though Trump said that the breakdown of the summit was “about sanctions,” he said he had a “productive time” during discussions with Kim.
Trump added it “wasn’t a thing to be signing anything” today terming Kim as “quite a guy, quite a character.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Kim was “unprepared” to meet the US demands.
Pompeo added that the negotiations will take time saying that they would continue to work to make progress to achieve what the world wants ‘which is to denuclearize North Korea’ and reduce risk for the American people and the people around the world. (Agencies)
US President Donald Trump said even as he had a “really productive time” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the US could not agree to North’s demands of lifting the sanctions entirety, reports from Hanoi have said.
Even though Trump said that the breakdown of the summit was “about sanctions,” he said he had a “productive time” during discussions with Kim, according to agencies.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon at Hanoi in Vietnam, Trump said: “They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn’t do that.”
Trump, however, said he looked forward to future talks with North Korea saying, “We haven’t given up anything.” He went on to say that they (North) have “tremendous potential, unbelievable.”
Even though Trump said that the breakdown of the summit was “about sanctions,” he said he had a “productive time” during discussions with Kim, according to agencies.
Trump added it “wasn’t a thing to be signing anything” today terming Kim as “quite a guy, quite a character.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Kim was “unprepared” to meet the US demands, reports said.
Pompeo added that the negotiations will take time saying that they would continue to work to make progress to achieve what the world wants ‘which is to denuclearize North Korea’ and reduce risk for the American people and the people around the world. (Agencies)
The White House on Thursday said no joint agreement has been reached between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim during the second summit.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders wrote that “No agreement was reached at this time. But their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future.”
Sanders in the statement said that “President Donald Trump Chairman Un of Korea had very good, constructive meetings in Hanoi of Vietnam.”
According to her, the two leaders discussed various ways to advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts.
Meanwhile, their planned working lunch has been called off, reports said. Amid speculation that the signing ceremony may not be taking place on Thursday, the motorcades for both President Trump and North Korean leader Kim returned to their hotels, according to agencies. (Agencies)
American basketball player Dennis K Rodman has asked US President Donald Trump to focus on maintaining peace in the Korean Peninsula during talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In a letter addressed to Trump, Rodman has expressed his continued and strong commitment to assisting Trump in his talks with North Korea.
“My continued friendship with Kim remains strong – a friendship I encourage you to continue to use for your Nation’s benefit,” the letter stated.
The basketball player further stated: “You are in a cusp of a big, beautiful deal – one that could make you the front runner for a Nobel Peace Prize.”
HANOI: President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dove into the details of nuclear negotiations Thursday amidst speculations about what Kim will give up what and Trump may demand.
Trump is not in a mood to make decisions in haste. “Speed is not important,” Trump said. “What’s important is that we do the right deal,” Trump said.
Accompanied only by translators, the unlikely pair — a 72-year-old billionaire and a 35-year-old reclusive autocrat — displayed a familiarity with one another as they began the day’s negotiations.
After a 40-minute private meeting, the leaders went for a stroll on the Hotel Metropole’s lush grounds, chatting as they walked by a swimming pool before being joined by aides to continue talks, reported news agencies.
Possible outcomes could include a peace declaration for the Korean War that the North could use to eventually push for the reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea, or sanctions relief that could allow Pyongyang to pursue lucrative economic projects with the South.
Skeptics say such agreements would leave in place a significant portion of North Korea’s nuclear-tipped missiles while robbing the United States of its negotiating leverage going forward. Asked if this summit would yield a political declaration to end the Korean War, Trump told reporters on Wednesday: “We’ll see.”
(Agencies)
KATHMANDU: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following India’s “pre-emptive air strikes” targeting Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s camp, an Indian retired Maj. General claims the tension will “cool down” in the next few days.
Talking to Khabarhub from Lucknow, Retd. Maj General Harsha Kakar labeled this as a temporary affair. “Pakistan was under immense internal pressure to act. Opposition parties might have put pressure on the government to act,” he told Khabarhub.
He is, however, hopeful that the ongoing tension will “cool down” in the next few days.
However, Azaz Syed, a Pakistani security expert, and senior journalist claimed Pakistan is “well prepared and equipped” to retaliate India’s actions.
“Pakistan is well prepared to retaliate India’s move anytime,” he told Khabarhub from Islamabad.
According to him, there has been heightened tension in the country after both the countries claimed of “downing” each other’s fighter aircraft on Wednesday.
While the Pakistani army has claimed they have shot down two Indian aircraft on Wednesday, the Indian army said they “downed” a Pakistani aircraft near the Line of Control (LoC).
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces tweeted that Pakistani army shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. According to him, one of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while others fell inside IOK.
Ghafoor claimed that one of the aircraft fell in Pakistan-controlled territory while the other fell in the Indian side, according to India media.
Meanwhile, India has claimed of shooting down Pakistan F-16 that violated the Indian space on Wednesday.
“There is a long history of tensions and wars between India and Pakistan. However, I believe it is in the interest of both states to try and maintain peace and security in the region. It is very important that both India and Pakistan exercise restraint, and avoid escalation, particularly given that they both have nuclear capabilities,” Vitor Ramon Fernandes, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Lusiada, Portugal, told Khabarhub.
Nepal’s security expert Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatta, meanwhile, said Nepal, as the Chair of SAARC, should endeavor to amicably deescalate the tension and cool down both the nuclear powers.
“Nepal should act on the basis of “Panchesheel” by taking the side of none. “Most importantly, Nepal government should lobby with the Indian side that the latter does not deploy Gorkha army in the conflict zone,” he said.
Nepal’s stance
The Government of Nepal said it is concerned about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack on security forces in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019.
Nepal had earlier condemned this ‘heinous’ terrorist act.
A press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said as the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal “calls on both sides to exercise utmost restraint and not engage in actions that would threaten peace and security” in the region.
The MoFA has also urged both the countries to seek a solution through dialogue and peaceful means in order to ease tension.
India-Pak conflict: Security high alert in Nepal
Nepal Police have beefed up security condition along the Nepal-India border and airport areas following the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.
Nepal Police has maintained high alert security following the heightened tension between Pakistan and India in view of the possible infiltration into Nepal, Uttam Raj Subedi, spokesperson of Nepal Police, told Khabarhub.
According to Subedi, security has been beefed up along the airport areas and Nepal-India borders to ensure that Nepali land will not be used against India and Pakistan.
Nepal Police is equally aware of the possible influx of refugees. The security has been heightened after an unsuccessful attempt was made to hijack a Dubai-bound plane in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh on Sunday.