WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he expects to continue meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their summit in Hanoi next week.
"I don't think this will be the last meeting by any chance," Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to the planned meeting on Feb. 27-28.
On North Korea's apparent reluctance to denuclearize, "I don't think they're reluctant; I think they want to do something," he said.
Pyongyang has sought the lifting of economic sanctions as part of negotiations. "I'd love to be able to, but in order to do that, [North Korea] would have to do something that's meaningful," Trump said.
Trump spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by phone ahead of the briefing. The leaders reaffirmed their cooperation toward a second U.S.-North Korea summit, according to the White House.
North Korean special envoy Kim Hyok Chol arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Kim is expected to meet with Stephen Biegun, the American special representative for North Korea, in the next few days to iron out final details for the summit.
National Security Adviser John Bolton is also traveling to South Korea soon to make preparations, CNN reported.
