(US-NK summit) Trump says sanctions were deal breaker in Hanoi talks with Kim

HANOI, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he has failed to reach a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as Kim demanded the lifting of all sanctions on Pyongyang.

"Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, but we couldn't do that," he said at a post-summit press conference in Hanoi.

He said he had to "walk away" from the talks with no deal in hand, as he believed it was not right to sign a document.

"I want to take off the sanctions so badly because I want that country to grow," Trump said. "But they had to give up more."

But he said the summit was not without progress, citing Kim's promise to continue the suspension of nuclear and missile testing.

He added his relationship with Kim is still "strong."

lcd@yna.co.kr
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