*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2019 *

**Remarks in a Meeting With Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un of North Korea and an Exchange With Reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam **

*February 27, 2019 *

*Chairman Kim.* So it's exactly 261 days since we met last time in Singapore, in June, last year.

*President Trump.* Yes.

*Chairman Kim.* And I truly believe that this successful and great meeting that we are having today is thanks to the courageous decision—political decision—that your team, Mr. President, reached.

So, during that 261 days since we last met, there have been some misunderstandings. There have been all these eyes from the world who are misunderstanding the situation. But—and there was some hostility that still remained from the very, very past period that—from the outside.

*President Trump.* Right.

*Chairman Kim.* But, however, we have been able to overcome all those obstacles, and here we are today after 261 days, in Hanoi together. And I truly believe that those 261 days were the days which were—and during which a lot of painstaking efforts were necessary and also a lot of patience were needed.

But here we are today sitting next to each other, and that gives us a hope that we will be successful with time. And I would really make—try to make that happen.

*President Trump.* Thank you very much. That's really nice. Thank you.

Well, I want to just say it's an honor to be with Chairman Kim. It's an honor to be together in, really, a country, Vietnam, where they've really rolled out the red carpet, and they've—they're very honored to have us. And it's great to be with you.

We had a very successful first summit. I felt it was very successful, and some people would like to see it go quicker. I'm satisfied; you're satisfied. We want to be happy with what we're doing. But I thought the first summit was a great success. And I think this one, hopefully, will be equal or greater than the first. And we made a lot progress, and I think the biggest progress was, our relationship is really a good one.

And as I've said many times—and I say it to the press; I say it to anybody that wants to listen—I think that your country has tremendous economic potential. Unbelievable. Unlimited. And I think that you will have a tremendous future with your country—a great leader. And I look forward to watching it happen and helping it to happen. And we will help it to happen.

[*At this point, President Trump and Chairman Kim shook hands.*]

*President Trump. *Thank you all very much. We appreciate it. And we're going to go have dinner, and then we have some big meetings scheduled for tomorrow. And we'll see you, I guess, at a news conference at some point during the day. Thank you very much.

*Former Personal Attorney to the President Michael D. Cohen's Congressional Testimony **Q. *Mr. President, do you have any reaction to Michael Cohen and his testimony?

[*President Trump shook his head "no."*]* *

*President Trump.* Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 6:35 p.m. at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel. Chairman Kim spoke in Korean, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

*Categories:* Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Hanoi, Vietnam; Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : North Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim*.*

*Locations: *Hanoi, Vietnam.* *

*Names:* Kim Jong Un*.*

*Subjects:* North Korea : Chairman, State Affairs Commission; North Korea : International diplomatic efforts; Vietnam : President Trump's visit.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201900103.