HANOI (BLOOMBERG) – The White House abruptly announced that President Donald Trump’s summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un would be cut short, raising questions about whether the two leaders would reach agreement on a joint statement.

Mr Trump’s news conference will now be held at 2pm local time (3pm Singapore time), instead of 4pm, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters in Hanoi.

Asked if there will be a joint declaration, Ms Sanders said that “negotiations were ongoing”.

Reporters were removed from what was supposed to be a working lunch between Mr Trump, Mr Kim and their aides.

Mr Trump earlier downplayed hopes for a breakthrough in nuclear talks at the start of his second summit with Mr Kim, who interacted with US journalists for the first time.

“Speed’s not that important to me,” Mr Trump said as the pair sat down for talks at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi. “No rush. We just want to do the right deal.”

The leaders took questions from reporters on multiple occasions, and Mr Kim answered several – an unusual occurrence for the young dictator, who has only recently begun to engage with the world.

They plan to sign an agreement at 2pm local time, and Mr Trump is scheduled to hold a news conference afterward.

Mr Trump called the talks so far “very productive” and said “the relationship is as good as it’s ever been”.

“There are people remaining sceptical about this meeting,” Mr Kim said in Korean in introductory remarks. “All of them will be watching this moment together as if they are watching a fantasy movie.”

He added: “Let me assure you I will do all my best to bring a good result ultimately.”

In response to questions, Mr Kim said he would not be at the summit if he was not willing to denuclearise, and said that the United States and North Korea establishing respective diplomatic offices in each other’s countries would be a “welcome idea”, without committing to it.

At one point, Mr Trump asked reporters not to shout questions at Mr Kim. “This isn’t like dealing with Trump,” the president joked.

After answering a couple of questions, Mr Kim asked Mr Trump if journalists could leave the room. “Even one minute is precious to us,” he said in Korean.

The summit was organised in Hanoi in haste after Mr Trump announced the meeting on Feb 8, and the White House has sought to lower expectations.

Possible outcomes include a joint declaration that the US and North Korea are no longer at war, a non-binding agreement that would not officially replace the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War.

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