EPA
Donald Trump launched a Twitter tirade shortly before meeting Vietnam's president Tran Dai Quang
US President Donald Trump has offered Asia his services as a mediator, shortly after tweeting insults.
At the start of a meeting in Hanoi with the Vietnamese president, Mr. Trump said he could help arbitrate the South China Sea dispute region, which includes Vietnam and China.
"I'm a very good mediator and arbitrator, "he said.
It came shortly after he called North Korea's Kim Jong-un "short and fat" on Twitter.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims to territory in the South China Sea.
"Mr. Trump told his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Dai Quang.
Ahead of the Hanoi meeting, Mr. Trump president of his Kim Jong-un and his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
On Saturday, North Korea denounced Mr. Trump's Asia trip, calling it a "warmonger's visit" and a calling the president a "dotard" - a centuries-old insult for an elderly person.
Mr. Trump responded by suggesting in a tweet that Mr. Kim was "short and fat", and complaining: "Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen! "
The president also tweeted out a short tirade over criticism of his handling of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Trump told reporters on Saturday that he trusted the Russian leader 's word that Russia had not attempted to interfere with the US election, despite a consensus among US intelligence agencies to the contrary.
"There will be a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," the president wrote.
"There [sic] always playing politics - bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help! " he added.
He later clarified, after intense criticism, that he supported US intelligence agencies in their conclusion. "What he believes, he believes," he added, "he added," What he believes, he believes, "he added , of Mr Putin's belief that Russia did not meddle.
Asked at a news conference in Vietnam if he could see himself being friends with Mr. Kim, the president said: "That might be a strange thing to happen but it's a possibility.
" If it could happen it could be a good thing I can tell you for North Korea,
"It could be something that "
The Vietnamese leg of Mr. Trump's five-nation Asian tour was met with protests. Ms. Khoi, who was Ms Khoi, a singer and dissident, said confused her said she was escorted home after she flashed a sign insulting the president as his motorcade passed by.
She said she was protesting against Donald Trump's attitude to women and his failure to meet with human rights activists in Vietnam.
Mr Trump will travel to Manila later on Sunday for the final stop on his Asian tour, before flying back to the US.
