Kim Commits to Denuclearisation in ‘Excellent’ Summit With Trump
The high-stakes summit was held in Sentosa island in Singapore on 12 June.
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After months of speculation and U-turns, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a 'successful' one-on-one talk at Singapore's Sentosa island on Tuesday, 12 June.
Trump summed up the summit saying that the two countries have an "excellent relationship", as Kim committed to 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula' in a joint 'comprehensive document' signed between the two countries.
- At the summit, Trump expressed his willingness to invite Kim Jong Un to the White House
- “We have decided to let go of the past and now the world will see a major change,” said Kim Jong Un after the summit
- India and the European Union called the talks between Trump and Kim as a ‘positive development’
- The summit at the Sentosa island in Singapore was the first-ever talk between a US President and a North Korean leader
Kim Accepts Trumps Invite to Visit the US
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accepts US President Donald Trump's invitation to visit the United States and says denuclearisation is dependent on ceasing antagonism.
Japan Calls Trump-Kim Meet 'First Step' Towards Denuclearisation
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed a document signed by North Korea's leader at an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump as a "first step" towards denuclearisation.
Speaking briefly after Kim Jong Un and Trump held historic talks in Singapore, Abe also said he was pleased that the US leader said he had raised the emotive issue of Japanese abducted by Pyongyang.
“Through this US-North Korea summit, Chairman Kim Jong Un's intent for complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was confirmed in writing,” Abe told reporters.
"I support this as a first step to the comprehensive resolution of issues concerning North Korea." Kim and Trump signed a document after their talks in which the North Korean leader reaffirmed his commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", without giving further details.
Trump Depicts Benefits of Peace in Video Played for Kim at Summit Singapore
Donald Trump played a Hollywood-style video to Kim Jong-un, which depicted the North Korean leader and the US president as its leading men, showing the prospect of peace.
The video made a dramatic pitch for the benefits of peace between the two Cold war-era rivals laying out the opportunities that could come with an agreement to eliminate North Korea's nuclear arsenal — a story about "two men, two leaders, one destiny."
Trump played the video in Korean to the North Korean leader and eight aides at their private bilateral meeting, The Straits Times reported.
When asked about the video montage played ahead of the press conference, Trump said: “We had it made. I hope you liked it. I thought it was interesting enough to show and I showed it to him (Kim) today towards the end of the meeting and I think he loved it,” the report said.
Russia Too Hails the Historic Summit Between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un as a "positive" step, Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Tuesday, 12 June.
"We have not yet seen the documents (signed at the summit). I don't think they have been published. But the mere fact that this meeting took place is of course positive," the agency quoted Lavrov as saying.
EU Hails Trump-Kim Talks as "Crucial and Necessary"
The EU praised the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "crucial and necessary step", saying it indicated that a "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula could be achieved.
"This summit was a crucial and necessary step to build upon the positive developments achieved in inter-Korean relations and on the peninsula so far," the EU's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.
(With inputs from PTI)
US President Departs From Singapore
US President Donald Trump departs from Singapore after holding talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Hailing the meet, Trump tweeted:
India Calls the Talks a 'Positive Development'
The Indian government has welcomed the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling it a positive development.
In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at the same time hoped that any resolution to the North Korean "peninsula issue" will address New Delhi's concerns about Pyongyang's proliferation linkages with India's neighbourhood, seen as an apparent reference to Pakistan.
India has been pressing for a probe into North Korea's proliferation linkages with India's neighbourhood.
"We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," the MEA said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Watch: Donald Trump Participates in a Media Availability After Singapore Summit
Participating in a media availability after holding a summit with Kim Jong Un and releasing a joint statement, US President Donald Trump called it "a great day and one of the greatest moments in the history of the world."
Trump also clarified that the US will stop holding military exercises on the Korean peninsula after Tuesday's meeting with Kim Jong Un. Regarding his willingness to invite the North Korean leader to the White House, he said:
Emphasising on the significance of Tuesday’s summit for both countries, the US President said:
Kim Jong Un Commits to 'Complete Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula'
After a 'successful' meeting with Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed to 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula' in the joint document signed between the two countries.
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un Sign 'Comprehensive Document' After 'Successful' Talks
Addressing the media jointly after the 'successful' talks, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signalled an upending of relations as they signed a 'comprehensive document.’
There were no immediate details on the contents of the document but Trump said he expected the denuclearisation process to start "very, very quickly".
When Trump was asked if he would invite the North Korean leader to the White House, he replied, "absolutely.”
"We've developed a very special bond. We'll meet again and we'll meet many times," said Trump.
He also called Kim "very smart" and a "very worthy, very hard negotiator."
China Welcomes Trump-Kim Talks
China welcomed the talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday, 12 June. Earlier, the US President dubbed the summit meeting as "very positive" and one making "a lot of progress."
Trump Says Expects "Signing" After "Very Good" Talks With Kim
Donald Trump said the summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had made "a lot of progress", adding that the two sides expected to sign an unspecified agreement.
Asked by reporters how the talks were going, Trump said:
He gave no further details.
The US President also said that he will make an announcement in a couple of minutes, reported Reuters.
Meeting Better Than Anyone Would Have Ever Expected: Trump
As the working lunch between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un concluded, the US President reiterated the success of the summit, saying that the meeting was "better than anyone would have ever expected.”
What's For Lunch? Trump, Kim Summit Menu a Blend of Western, Asian Flavours
Beef ribs and sweet and sour pork: US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will be served a working lunch that combines the flavours of East and West during their historic meeting in Singapore.
A menu released by the White House showed the two leaders will sit down to starters that include prawn cocktail and avocado salad, a Southeast Asian-flavoured green mango salad dish with honey lime dressing and fresh octopus, as well as "oiseon", a Korean dish of stuffed cucumber.
Main courses include beef short rib confit, served with potato dauphinois and steamed broccoli; sweet and sour crispy pork and fried rice with an "XO" chilli sauce as well as a Korean dish called "daegu jorim", which is a soy braised cod fish with radish and Asian vegetables.
For dessert, Trump and Kim and their delegations would have a choice of dark chocolate tartlet ganache, Haagen Daaz vanilla ice cream with cherry coulis and tropezienne, a cream-filled pastry.
We Overcame Skepticism, Speculations About This Summit, Says Kim
Sharing his thoughts about the historic meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday, 12 June, North Korea's Kim Jong Un said that the two sides "overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit."
"I believe that this is good for peace. I believe this is a good prelude for peace ," he said.
Kim was also heard telling Trump through a translator: "I think the entire world is watching this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a fantasy... science fiction movie."
Trump and Kim Go Into Second Meeting Joined by Aides
After the one-on-one talk with only their interpreters, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un went into a second meeting joined by key aides, reported AFP.
Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the expanded talks, while Kim's team included former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party.
Working Together, We Will Get it Taken Care of: Trump to Kim
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended a 41-minute one-on-one meeting on Tuesday, 12 June, and entered wider talks attended by their top leaders in Singapore.
"Working together we will get it taken care of," Trump told Kim at the start of the wider meeting. "We will solve it."
The US President described the one-on-one meeting with Kim Jong Un as "very, very good", adding they have an "excellent relationship.” He also predicted that he and the North Korean leader "will solve a big problem, a big dilemma.”
Trump, Kim Predict 'Great Relationship' as Summit Begins
Before disappearing behind closed doors for a private meeting with Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump addressed the media briefly.
Seated next to Kim, Trump said, “It's my honour – we will have a terrific relationship, I have no doubt.”
Kim, in turn, acknowledged Trump’s statement, adding: “We overcame all obstacles and came here today.”
Trump, Kim Shake Hands, Begin One-on-One Meet
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands and smiled as they started a historic summit on Tuesday, just months after they traded insults and threats of nuclear war.
For both men, the summit, the first between leaders of North Korea and the United States, is likely to be a defining moment of their careers.
White House Economic Advisor Suffers Heart Attack
Ahead of the summit, US President Donald Trump said that the White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow has had a heart attack, and is currently being treated at the Reed Medical Centre.
Trump, Kim Arrive at Singapore Summit Site for Talks
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump reached the venue of their historic summit in Singapore on Tuesday, after both sides sought to narrow differences over how to end a nuclear standoff.
Dollar Rises Before Trump-Kim Summit
The dollar jumped to a 3-week top on Tuesday while Asian shares started cautiously as investors were hopeful of a positive outcome from a highly anticipated US-Korea summit, which could set the stage for ending a nuclear stand-off on the Korean peninsula.
Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.8 percent to the highest in three weeks and South Korean shares added 0.1 percent. Australia's benchmark index was a tad firmer while New Zealand eased 0.3 percent.
That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan a touch softer at 573.31.
Hours Before Summit, Trump Tweets "We Will Be Fine!"
Merely hours before his historic meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US President Donald Trump tweeted:
Trump Optimistic on Summit Despite Differences on Ending Nuclear Standoff
US President Donald Trump said his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday would show if a "real deal" could happen, as both sides sought to narrow differences over how to end a nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula.
While Trump was optimistic about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo injected a note of caution, saying it remained to be seen if Kim was sincere about his willingness to denuclearise.
Officials of the two sides held last-minute talks to lay the groundwork for the summit of the old foes, an event almost unthinkable just months ago, when they were exchanging insults and threats that raised fears of war.
Summit Part of a Changed Era
Commenting for the first time on the summit, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said the two sides would exchange "wide-ranging and profound views" to re-set relations. It heralded the summit as part of a "changed era".
(With inputs from Reuters.)
Trump to Leave Summit early, Says Talks Moved Faster Than Expected
President Donald Trump announced on the eve of their historic meeting that he will be leaving Singapore early because the nuclear negotiations have moved “more quickly than expected.” Trump will now leave Singapore on Tuesday night, after the summit. He had earlier been scheduled to leave on Wednesday.
Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit said on Sunday.
(With inputs from The Washington Post and Reuters.)
North Koreans Informed About Summit in Singapore
North Koreans were told by state-run media only on Monday, 11 June, that their leader Kim Jong Un is in Singapore for a historic summit with President Trump. The high-stakes meeting received little coverage in North Korea before Monday, reported CNN.
Kim Takes Selfie With Singapore Foreign Minister
As Kim took part in an evening stroll around Singapore ahead of the summit, he stopped for a selfie with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The latter tweeted the selfie with the North Korean leader.
Kim Jong Un Explores Singapore Ahead of Summit
Kim Jong Un went on an surprise late night exploratory tour of Singapore ahead of his historic summit with Donald Trump scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 12 June. The famously reclusive leader made an evening tour of sites on Singapore's waterfront, on the eve of the summit that is due to get underway on Tuesday morning at a nearby resort island.
(With inputs from Reuters.)
North Korea Gets First Big Dose of Trump Summit News
North Koreans got their first big dose of news Monday that their leader Kim Jong Un had arrived in Singapore for what even the state-run media was calling a historic meeting with US President Donald Trump, AP reported.
North Korea's Kim to Tour Singapore Sites on Eve of Summit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was due to leave his luxury Singapore hotel for the first time on Monday, for an evening tour of attractions on the city's waterfront, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters.
Trump Celebrates 72nd Birthday With Big Cake in Singapore
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong surprised Donald Trump with a big birthday cake, ahead of the historic Kim-Trump summit on 12 June.
Trump celebrated his 72nd birthday during his lunch with Loong at the presidential palace Istana after their bilateral meeting during which the two leaders discussed everything from the summit preparations to the US' tariff threats.
A picture of Trump smiling at the cake, decorated with fresh fruit, was shared on Twitter by Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan with the message saying "Celebrating birthday, a bit early".
(With PTI inputs)
Trump, Pompeo Positive Ahead of North Korean Summit
US President Donald Trump said on Monday his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore could "work out very nicely" as officials from both countries met to narrow differences on how to end a nuclear stand-off on the Korean peninsula.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the preparatory talks were moving quite rapidly and "and we anticipate that they will come to their logical conclusion even more quickly than we anticipated.
Although gaps remain over what denuclearisation would entail, Trump sounded a positive note in a lunch meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Indian Dishes on Menu for Journalists at Trump-Kim Summit
Popular Indian dishes like Pulao, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry, Daal, Chicken Korma and Papad are among 45 other varieties being served to nearly 3,000 journalists from across the world who will be covering the summit.
The dishes will be served at the F1 Pit Building - the official media centre for the summit - in downtown Singapore
Airport ground handler and food firm, Sats, which has been tasked with the biggest job, expects to serve more than 7.2 tonnes of food - over 7,000 meals.
By the time they are done with all seven lunches and dinners over three and a half days, about 650 manhours would have been spent, Sats' spokesman said.
Sats president and chief executive officer Alex Hungate said: "It's always good to keep the journalists happy with a delicious meal."
(Wtih PTI inputs)
US Offers 'Unique' Security Guarantees If NK Denuclearises: Mike Pompeo
The US offered "unique" security guarantees to North Korea if it accepts a "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement" of its nuclear programme as the two sides prepared for a historic summit.
"We will take actions to provide them sufficient certainty that they can be comfortable that denuclearisation is not something that ends badly for them," Pompeo said.
He said previous American administrations have been fooled by North Korea but the Trump Administration has got experts on non-proliferation and Weapons of Mass Destruction on the ground to verify Pyongyang's willingness to denuclearise.
(With PTI inputs)
Trump Meets Singapore PM; Hopes for 'Nice' Outcome From Summit With Kim
US President Donald Trump on Monday, 11 June, hoped that a "nice" outcome could be reached from what he said would be a "very interesting meeting" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday.
Trump made the remarks at a working lunch with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the presidential palace Istana after their bilateral meeting during which the two leaders discussed everything from the summit preparations to the US’ tariff threats.
He also thanked his Singapore hosts for their hospitality.
The US president was accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
During the meeting, the officials also celebrated Trump's birthday. He is turning 72 on 14 June.
Meanwhile, diplomats from the US and North Korea met behind closed doors at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in a bid to narrow their differences ahead of the Trump-Kim summit.
(With inputs from PTI)
US President Donald Trump Arrives in Singapore
US President Donald Trump arrived in Singapore on Sunday ahead of a historic summit.
Trump flew into Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base aboard Air Force One, looking to lay the groundwork for a nuclear deal with one of America's most bitter long-time foes, directly following his divisive meeting in Canada with some of Washington's closest allies that further strained global trade ties.
Trump was received at the air base by Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Kim Jong Un Arrives in Singapore
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un landed in Singapore on Sunday, 10 June ahead of a summit with US President Donald Trump that could end a nuclear stand-off between the old foes and transform the secretive country, reported Reuters.
He was greeted by Singapore's foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, who posted a picture of him shaking hands with Kim on Twitter, with a message that read: "Welcomed Chairman Kim Jong Un, who has just arrived in Singapore."
He disembarked an Air China jet followed by top officials including Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Kim Yong Chol, a close aide of Kim's who has been instrumental in the diplomacy that culminated in the Tuesday summit.
Historic Summit Between Two Countries on Tuesday
The leaders of the two countries are due to meet on Tuesday, 12 June on the resort island of Sentosa for their high-stakes summit, the first-ever talks between a US and North Korean leader and the culmination of a head-spinning diplomatic dance.
Such a meeting was unthinkable just months ago when Trump and Kim were exchanging insults and threats that raised fears of war in the region, reported Reuters.
But a series of diplomatic overtures involving North Korea, South Korea and the United States reduced tensions and led Trump in March to quickly accept Kim’s invitation to meet.
Trump initially touted the potential for a grand bargain with North Korea to rid itself of a nuclear missile programme that has advanced rapidly to threaten the United States, insisting he would swiftly achieve what previous US administrations have failed to do.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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