DPRK, U.S. negotiators narrowing differences on Hanoi summit

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The Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in Monday voiced his wish for a successful second Trump-Kim summit following the in-depth negotiations between the U.S. and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top negotiators on the U.S.-DPRK joint statement.

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy for the DPRK, is narrowing the differences on the issue of dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear complex with his DPRK counterpart, Kim Hyok Chol, in Hanoi since last Thursday, ahead of the upcoming Hanoi summit on February 27-28, Yonhap reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The U.S., the DPRK and Vietnamese national flags are displayed for sale at a store in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

"The two sides have been in in-depth negotiations," the source told Yonhap. "They are engaged in far more serious discussions than (those prior to) the first summit held in Singapore last year."

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The source suggested possible progress could be made on dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear complex.

The two sides are negotiating on the feasible denuclearization steps and the corresponding actions the U.S. should take, including the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War and discussions on the mechanism for building permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

A banner depicting images of U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Speaking of the declaration in the upcoming Hanoi summit, the presidential office of the Republic of Korea (ROK) suggested a "possible compromise between the North (DPRK) and the U.S., but the format of the end-of-war declaration still remains unknown," said spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom.

ROK wishes success of second Trump-Kim summit

"We wish for the success of the summit as an expression of our support for the two leaders," said ROK President Moon Jae-in during a meeting with his senior secretaries, according to the presidential Blue House.

Moon praised Trump's "novel and audacious diplomatic endeavors aimed at peace on the Korean Peninsula," while applauding Kim's resolve to move toward the future.

Moon said a successful Kim-Trump summit will serve as "a decisive opportunity to resolve the threat of war and other security concerns on the Korean Peninsula as well as to enable us to move toward the age of a peace-driven economy."

Vietnamese police patrol the streets of Hanoi ahead of the second Trump-Kim summit, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

He vowed to do whatever his government can do to take a path toward denuclearization, permanent peace and mutual prosperity.

The DPRK's state media Sunday confirmed that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, is on a train to Vietnam for his second summit with Donald Trump, while Trump on Sunday said he would depart for Hanoi on February 25.

Vietnam pledged top security for the upcoming Trump-Kim summit on Monday.

(Cover: A man paints a pole next to pictures of the Vietnamese, the U.S. and the DPRK national flags in Hanoi, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo)