Hanoi Talks Breakdown: Trump-Kim nuclear summit ends abruptly without deal

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The summit in Hanoi ended early without a deal. US President Donald Trump couldn't reach a deal with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and they have no immediate plans to talk again. CGTN's White House Correspondent Jessica Stone has details from Hanoi.

If Singapore was about symbolism, Hanoi was supposed to be about outcomes.

KIM JONG UN DPRK LEADER "There are people who hold a skeptical view of our meeting and for them. I think watching us have a great time will be like watching a scene from a fantasy movie."

But if the DPRK nuclear talks are a movie - there's no ending yet. DPRK leader, Kim Jong Un says he is willing to denuclearize.

KIM JONG UN DPRK LEADER "If I was not, I wouldn't be here." Kim smiled.

But his demands are too high for Washington. Thursday afternoon, talks broke down. The signing ceremony was canceled. The white house moved up the time for the presidential press conference.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Sometimes you have to walk, and this was one of those times."

JESSICA STONE HANOI "During the press conference, US President Donald Trump said the major sticking point in negotiations came down to Yongbyon nuclear facility. He says Kim Jong Un was willing to fully denuclearize that facility, but only in exchange for a full lifting of all US sanctions."

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that. They were willing to 'denuclear' a large portion of the areas we wanted, but we couldn't give up all the sanctions for that."

Trump doesn't count the effort - a lost cause. He says he's grateful to the other nations who've pushed Pyongyang to engage and levied the punishing sanctions that led to the talks.

JESSICA STONE "How would you describe the role that China has played in facilitating the engagement that's happened so far between Pyongyang and Washington."

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "I think China has been a big help, bigger than most people know. The border, 93% of the goods coming into North Korea come through China, so there's a great power, but at the same time, I believe that North Korea is calling its own shots. it's not taking orders from anybody. He's a very strong guy."

A strong guy, whom Trump says he respects. A relationship, he believes, will lead to progress long term. But for now, the US president leaves Hanoi without a deal, without a commitment to a next summit. Jessica Stone, CGTN Hanoi, Vietnam.