As Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim meet, one major issue, North Korea’s human rights violations, is not likely to be a main talking point.
But rights activists say there should be no glossing over the totalitarian regime’s suppression of free speech and its imprisonment of tens of thousands of political prisoners in a network of gulags.
“North Korea is arguably the worst human rights-abusing government in the world today, so any dialogue with Kim Jong-un should not leave rights off the table,” said Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch.
Great meeting and dinner with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam tonight. Looking forward to continuing our discussions tomorrow! #HanoiSummit pic.twitter.com/J3x6lUGzjS— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2019
When a reporter asked Mr. Kim on Thursday if they were discussing human rights, Mr. Trump interjected, saying, “We’re discussing everything. So I just want to thank everybody for being here.”
LATEST: Kim Jong Un fields multiple questions from Western reporters in Hanoi. One asked Kim if he’s ‘ready to denuclearize.’ “If I’m not willing do that I won’t be here right now,” he said through an interpreter.
“That’s a good answer,” said Pres. Trump. https://t.co/56QLuxjNo5 pic.twitter.com/ptzpFwgyhS— ABC News (@ABC) February 28, 2019The United States and North Korea have yet to agree on what “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” means.
Washington wants the “fully verifiable” dismantling of all of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, fissile materials and production facilities.
North Korea has indicated that it will not give up its nuclear deterrent until the United States removes its troops from South Korea and its bombers, aircraft carriers and other nuclear-capable military assets from the Korean Peninsula.