Moscow (VNA) – The Russia-based ValdaiDiscussion Club held a teleconference in Moscow on February 27 featuring theongoing second summit between US President Donald Trump and leader of theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un.

The event attracted the participation of three scholarsmajor in US and DPRK studies, experts in Hanoi and university professors fromSeoul, the Republic of Korea.

Konstantin Asmolov from the Korean Studies Centre under the RussianAcademy of Sciences’ Institute of Far Eastern Studies presented an overview ofthe context resulting in the second meeting between the US and DPRK leaders aswell as expectations from observers, including practical steps to loosensanctions against Pyongyang, the DPRK’s commitment to denuclearisation and theUS’s soft stance.

He said Kim is likely to mention Pyongyang’s position in theUS – China relations.

According to him, it is hard for President Trump to makesuggestions as expected by Pyongyang.

Joining the event from Hanoi, Prof. Georghi Toloraya saidthe meeting between the two leaders took place in the open and amicableatmosphere.

He said there are many predictions on specific decisionsrelating to the shutdown of nuclear complex and the possibility of removingsanctions by the United Nations Security Council.

The professor was cautious when forecasting the outcomes ofthe summit that will conclude on February 28.

Prof. Andrey Lankov from Seoul-based Kookmin University reportedon the DPRK’s socio-economic development with a 4-5 percent economic growth.

Despite sanctions and embargo, the DRPK is yet to fall intocrisis while local lives are still ensured, which makes it easier for the DPRKleader to protect his stance during negotiations, he said.-VNA