Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Vietnam as they prepare for second meeting

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The US president is hoping he can push his North Korean counterpart into getting started on the process of denuclearisation.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un shakes hands with US President Donald Trump during a historic summit of the two nations.
Image:The two leaders are preparing to meet for the second time
President Donald Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi later today for the first time since their summit in Singapore in June last year.
The two will have a one-on-one conversation at the Metropole Hotel at 6.30pm local time (11.30am GMT), before having a "social dinner".
On Thursday, there will be a full summit of "back and forth meetings", according to the White House.
Both leaders arrived in the Vietnamese capital yesterday: Mr Kim in the morning, on the armoured train he took all the way from Pyongyan; and Mr Trump in the evening, aboard Air Force One.
Mr Trump said last year that he and Mr Kim "fell in love". Since their meeting in Singapore, they have exchanged letters via envoys on a semi-regular basis.
Despite that, little progress has been made towards the process of denuclearisation, which both leaders agreed to work towards in Singapore.
Mr Trump is convinced that his personal relationship with Kim, combined with prospect of economic prosperity for North Korea, can break the impasse.
"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!"
SINGAPORE - JUNE 12: In this handout photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) meets U.S. President Donald Trump during their historic U.S.-DPRK summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island on June 12, 2018 in Singapore. U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held the historic meeting between leaders of both countries on Tuesday morning in Singapore, carrying hopes to end decades of hostility and the threat of North Korea's nuclear program. (Photo by Kevin Lim/THE STRAITS TIM
Image:Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un in Singapore last year
The White House has pointed to the absence of missile launches or nuclear tests by North Korea as proof of progress, but there is pressure on the summit to produce specific concessions and perhaps a road-map with steps for denuclearisation.
From North Korea, these could include destroying its nuclear fissile material production facilities at Yongbyon and elsewhere, and returning more remains of American soldiers killed or captured during the Korean War.
In return, the US could offer to open liaison offices in North Korea and to foster cultural exchanges.
It could also declare an end to the Korean War. This would be a political settlement, and not replace the armistice that has held since 1953. As a result, North and South Korea technically remain at war.
Many doubt Kim will give up his nuclear arsenal
Image:Many doubt Kim will give up his nuclear arsenal
But it would be a first step towards a comprehensive peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula. Mr Trump could also offer some limited sanctions relief.
Before his dinner with Kim, Mr Trump spent the day meeting the president and then the prime minister of Vietnam.
Mr Kim's schedule is not known. Yesterday he visited the North Korean embassy in Hanoi.
North Korean state media have been reporting Mr Kim's journey prominently. Today's edition of Rodong Sinmun, a state run newspaper, said that the absence of Kim Jong Un is leading to "sleeplessness" amongst North Korean workers and thus increased production.

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