North Korea airs documentary glorifying Kim-Trump summit -- but fails to mention talks collapsed
In a new 75-minute documentary that aired on state television Wednesday, North Koreans were told President Trump and Kim Jong Un are firm allies and made major progress on the road to peace.
Kim Jong Un may have failed on the world stage to reach a deal with President Trump at their Vietnam summit to lift crippling sanctions in return for denuclearization, but back home, citizens of the hermit kingdom were none the wiser.
In fact, in a new 75-minute documentary that aired on state television Wednesday, North Koreans were told the two leaders are firm allies and made major progress on the road to peace.
Footage shows Kim and Trump smiling next to each other during their meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi. The feature includes footage of the North Korean despot’s complete trip — from the moment he boarded his armored green and yellow train to shaking hands with Trump to his ride back to Pyongyang.
"During the (expanded) meeting, it was stressed that the efforts and measures made by the two sides to reduce tensions and build peace on the Korean peninsula had a great meaning in fundamentally shifting the decades-long relationship of mistrust and hostility (between the two countries)," the documentary said, according to Yonhap.
In this image made from video released on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, by North Korean broadcaster KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, smiles while walking with U.S. President Donald Trump for a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. (AP)
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It also said a “fair proposal, appropriate attitude and will to solve the problem” will help create peaceful ties between North Korea and the United States. The documentary stated that Trump "reaffirmed his willingness to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un more often in order to bring about fruits in improving the North Korea-U.S. relations."
The documentary called the Kim-Trump summit "yet another meaningful incident on the issue of world peace,” but left out the part where Trump abruptly cut the summit short when denuclearization talks collapsed. Trump told reporters on Thursday Kim was “unprepared” with additional demands for denuclearization.
“Sometimes you have to walk,” Trump said.
In this image made from video released on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, by North Korean broadcaster KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves as he visits the North Korean Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. (AP)
Earlier this week, two U.S.-based websites specializing in North Korea studies cited commercial satellite imagery as indicating that North Korea is rebuilding some structures at its northwestern rocket launch facility. South Korea's spy service gave a similar assessment to lawmakers in Seoul in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday.
"I would be very, very disappointed in Chairman Kim," Trump said when reporters asked him about reports of new work at the North's launch site. "I don't think I will be (disappointed)," Trump said, "but we'll see what happens."
Meanwhile, North Korea slammed South Korea and the U.S. on Thursday for carrying out their weeklong joint military exercise that began Monday.
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"It is a violent violation of the joint declarations and statements that North Korea reached with the U.S. and South Korea [last year]," Korean Central News Agency said, according to Yonhap. "This also represents a frontal challenge to the aim and desires of all [Korean] people and the international community for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.