The Latest: Trump says he appreciates Kim's efforts

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's appearance at the U.N. General Assembly (all times local):

11 a.m.

A year ago at the United Nations President Donald Trump derided North Korea's Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man," but this year his message is different: Thank you.

Trump addressed the General Assembly on Tuesday and said he appreciated the steps Kim has taken to denuclearize.

Trump notes "missiles and rockets are no longer flying" from North Korea and threatening its neighbors.

Trump met with Kim in Singapore in June. The White House is working toward scheduling a second summit.

Despite Trump's praise, the administration has said Pyongyang is slow-walking toward fulfilling the goals set in Singapore.

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10:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump is asserting American sovereignty and rejecting "global governance, control and domination."

Trump said Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly he honors the right of every nation to pursue its own customs, beliefs and traditions. He says the United States will never tell other nations how to live, work or worship.

But Trump says the United States expects other nations to "honor America's sovereignty in return."

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10:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump is highlighting U.S. gains under his watch as he opens his address to the U.N. General Assembly — and is getting a laugh.

Trump told leaders from around the world Tuesday the American economy is "booming like never before" and his administration has accomplished more in less than two years than almost any other administration. His boast elicited laughter from the scores of heads of state and delegates in the audience for the speech.

Trump responded by saying, "I didn't expect that reaction, but that's OK."

Trump says the U.S. is a "stronger, safer and richer country" than when he took office in January 2017. He says "we are standing up for America and for the American people, and we are also standing up for the world."

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10:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he won't meet with Iran's leadership "until they change their tune."

Questioned as he arrived at United Nations headquarters Tuesday, Trump said Iran has acted "very badly." He says the U.S. is doing "many things" right now with respect to Iran, including sanctions.

Trump earlier this year withdrew the U.S. from a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and reinstated economic sanctions.

Trump says he looks forward to having a "great relationship" with Iran but "Iran has to change its tune."

While Trump spoke in sour terms about current relations with Iran, he spoke glowingly of his budding friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and Kim met in June in Singapore. Trump says, "We're doing very well with North Korea."

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10:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump is holding up the whole world.

Trump ran a bit late for his once-a-year speech at the U.N. General Assembly, forcing organizers to change the order of speakers.

Trump was scheduled to speak second at Tuesday's session, after Brazilian President Michel Temer. Instead, Temer's speech was followed by an awkward pause as U.N. officials prepared the podium to accommodate the No. 3 speaker, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno Garces, who is in a wheelchair.

Trump's motorcade arrived during Moreno's speech at the U.N. headquarters in New York. The White House did not immediately explain why Trump was late.

Trump's "America First" policies and criticism of allies have clashed with the multilateral spirit of the U.N. General Assembly.

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7:40 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he has no plans to meet this week with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (hah-SAHN' roh-HAH'-nee) "despite requests."

Both leaders are attending an annual U.N. gathering in New York. Trump wasn't specific in Tuesday's tweet about the origin of the "requests" for a meeting.

But Rouhani also has ruled out meeting, telling NBC News on Monday conditions are not ripe for talks. The Iranian leader accuses the U.S. of adopting a hostile stance toward his country.

Trump withdrew the U.S. from a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and reinstated economic sanctions on Iran. Trump says in the tweet that "Maybe someday in the future" he and Rouhani will meet.

Trump says: "I am sure he is an absolutely lovely man!"

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12:40 a.m.

President Donald Trump returns to the pinnacle of global diplomacy when he addresses the U.N. General Assembly.

Ahead of his speech Tuesday morning, White House aides cast Trump's New York visit as an opportunity to assert American sovereignty before the multinational body.

He is expected to be unapologetic about his decisions to engage with the erstwhile pariah North Korea, remove the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord, and object to U.N. aid programs he believes are contrary to American interests.

On Wednesday, Trump will chair for the first time a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the topic of counter-proliferation.

The four days of choreographed foreign affairs stand in contrast to wild twists and disorder in domestic politics, highlighted by the controversy over Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.