US-DPRK relations have made great progress in the past year. While Trump now says his relationship with Kim is 'very good', the two sides were still trading harsh words just one year ago, when the last UN general assembly was held. Our correspondent Nathan King reports.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime."

What a difference a year makes. The U.S. and the DPRK were threatening nuclear war, now they're engaged in a fragile, but a real diplomatic process. And in New York, South Korea's president briefed Trump on his recent Pyongyang summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, saying Kim had a special message for Trump.

MOON JAE-IN SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT "Chairman Kim also repeatedly conveyed his unwavering trust and expectations for you, while expressing his hope to meet you soon to swiftly conclude the denuclearization process with you, because you are, indeed, the only person who can solve this problem."

While a second summit between the DPRK and U.S. leaders is being planned, Trump's diplomatic team is skeptical that Pyongyang is ready to disarm.

The U.S. Secretary of State said the 'maximum pressure' campaign of sanctions and diplomatic isolation will continue until the DPRK denuclearizes

MIKE POMPEO US SECRETARY OF STATE "We expect the full, complete, verified denuclearization of North Korea and until such time as that occurs, the economic sanctions - the sanctions that were put in place by the United Nations Security Council - will remain in place."

South Korea and others in the region - including China - prefer a more incremental approach, offering concessions as Pyongyang moves towards denuclearization. This approach between the two Koreas has already led to a significant decrease in tensions.

NATHAN KING NEW YORK "While the U.S. tries to forge a nuclear agreement that Pyongyang will consider, White House officials will be explaining why they abandoned the nuclear agreement with Iran. Washington's allies and others insist it was working, and say they intend to stick by that deal, which was also backed by the United Nations. The U.S. president could make Tehran the target of hostile rhetoric this year as he did Pyongyang twelve months ago. Nathan King, CGTN at the United Nations in New York."