US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un’s summit in Vietnam was abruptly cut short yesterday as the pair failed to reach an agreement over how North Korea should denuclearise.

A working lunch and signing ceremony pre-announced by the White House was cancelled at the last minute as talks in Hanoi hit a sudden impasse around midday.

Mr Trump said that Kim had insisted all economic sanctions against North Korea were lifted while not agreeing to give up his entire nuclear arsenal - a position he could not accept.

“Sometimes you just have to walk," Mr Trump said at a press conference, adding that he did not want to sign a bad deal. No new summit date was agreed.

The US president insisted that progress had been made and that he and Kim shook hands and remained on good terms.

He said Kim had agreed not to restart nuclear and missile tests and the US would not restart military exercises in South Korea - a continuation of the status quo.