Trump-Kim meeting: Democrats hit out at 'reality TV handshake' amid concerns over lack of specific promises from North Korea
Mr Trump says he trusts Mr Kim and that he believes the North Korean leader is sincere about his desire for denuclearisation
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump appears to have made a major concession to North Korea following his joint agreement with Kim Jong-un, ending joint military exercises with South Korea that he deemed “provocative” and “tremendously expensive”.
He said he also hoped to “bring home” the 32,000 US troops stationed in South Korea at some point in the future, but acknowledged such a move was not “part of the equation right now”.
In a press conference lasting more than an hour Mr Trump also said the North had begun dismantling a major missile engine testing site, and he praised Mr Kim as “very talented”.
Later, as Mr Trump's plane landed in Guam to refuel, Mr Trump told reporters that he trusted Mr Kim and that he believed the North Korean leader was sincere about his desire for denuclearisation.
“I can only tell you that from the time I’ve (dealt) with him, which is really starting 90 days ago," Mr Trump said. "I think he wants to get it done".
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At the end of the summitMr Trump and Mr Kim signed what Mr Trump claimed was a “comprehensive” document following the historic meeting aimed at the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. The president said he believed the process of denuclearisation would happen “very, very quickly”, adding that he had formed a “special bond” with Mr Kim.
Mr Kim who has been granted a measure of international legitimacy with the summit, said the two leaders had “decided to leave the past behind. The world will see a major change”.
In the first meeting of a sitting US president and a North Korean leader, the pair convened at a luxury resort on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, clasping hands as they stood on a red carpet in front of a backdrop of alternating US and North Korean flags. Mr Trump was first to arrive at the summit site, followed by Mr Kim, both readying for the 9am meeting that culminated dizzying weeks of negotiations over logistics and policy.
The pair started the momentous Singapore summit with an historic handshake for the world’s media before getting down to talks about North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Mr Trump and Mr Kim met one on one for about 40 minutes, joined only by translators. Then aides to each arrived for more discussions and a working lunch.
The US president said the meetings went “better than anybody could have expected” after the pair emerged from lunch and strolled together down a paved walkway before stopping and posing before the waiting news media.
Mr Trump said the meeting is “going great. We had a really fantastic meeting”. He added that there has been “a lot of progress. Really very positive”
It is believed that the signing will likely revolve around a promise to keep meeting.
The White House said discussions with North Korea have moved “more quickly than expected” and Mr Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night, after the summit. He had earlier been scheduled to leave on Wednesday. Mr Trump will visit military bases in Guam and Hawaii on his way back to Washington.
Teams of officials from both sides held working-level talks on Monday.
Senior officials travelling with Mr Trump included secretary of state Mike Pompeo, national security adviser John Bolton and White House chief of staff John Kelly. As Mr Trump was travelling to the Capella Hotel which was the site of the summit, he surprisingly tweeted about another senior official - economic adviser Larry Kudlow - with Mr Trump saying he had had a heart attack. The White House later said that Mr Kudlow was in a good condition in hospital having suffered a “very mild” heart attack.
Mr Kim’s delegation consisted of foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, defence minister No Kwang Chol and Kim Yong Chol, a close aide of Kim who has been instrumental in the diplomacy that culminated in Tuesday’s summit.
Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim’s younger sister, was also spotted in his delegation. She emerged as an influential figure in Pyongyang’s opaque leadership in February, when she led a North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
When Mr Trump initially agreed to meet with the North Korean leader, the US president spoke of his hope that their encounter could secure a major breakthrough and lead to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
If so, then the meeting would be the most important since Ronald Reagan met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva in November 1985.
Mr Trump has since sought to play down expectations, saying that the meeting will be an important first step, but that securing a deal will likely take many more meetings.
Given that what the US wants to get out of the summit, a rapid denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, may be different to what North Korea wants, there may be many such meetings. Many observers will be looking to see whether Mr Trump does extend an invitation to his counterpart to visit the White House.
"We spent a lot of time together. A lot of intensive time....This is going to lead to more and more and more. It's an honour to be with you."
Another final handshake, more applause and they leave the signing ceremony. Mr Trump is due to hold his own press conference in two hours
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump have signed what he US president called a "very important" and "pretty comprehensive" document.
But Mr Trump is refusing to tell reporters what the declaration says. The document is set to be handed out to reporters later.
Mr Trump said as the leaders wrapped up their historic summit in Singapore that he and Kim "have developed a very special bond" during their day together.
He added: "Both sides are going to be impressed with the result."
Mr Kim told reporters that "the world will see a major change," though it's unclear how.
President Trump also said he is "absolutely" willing to invite Mr Kim to the White House, which would be quite the step.
Trump, Kim Jong Un shake hands, exchange farewells without interpreters as Singapore summit ends.
And now Kim Jong-un has left Singapore's Sentosa island after concluding his meeting with Donald Trump, the AP reports.
In his final remarks before the pair separated, Mr Trump said he found Mr Kim to be a "very worthy, very smart negotiator" on behalf of the North Korean people.
Trump was asked by reporters in Singapore during his final appearance with Kim on Tuesday what surprised him most during their meetings.
The president said Mr Kim has a "great personality" and is "very smart. Good combination."
Mr Trump also says he learned Mr Kim is "a very talented man" and "loves his country very much."
He wrapped up the summit by saying the two had "a terrific day" and "learned a lot about each other and about our countries."
He said he expects they'll meet again many times.
Read more about that open-ended invitation for Kim to visit the White House:
AFP are reporting that the joint text document signed by the two leaders commits the US to 'security guarantees' and promises the establishment of 'new US-DPRK relations'.
In the same document, Kim Jong-un commits to the 'complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula'.
China says it hopes the US and North Korea can reach a lasting agreement on a peace deal.
The Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, made the comments on Tuesday while the summit was still going on, shortly before Mr Trump and Mr Kim signed what they called a "comprehensive" document.
Mr Wang said China welcomed their talks and supported them.
"We hope that the two countries' highest leaders can dispel interference, establish mutual trust, overcome difficulties and can reach a basic consensus on promoting and achieving the denuclearisation of the peninsula and promoting and establishing a peace mechanism for the peninsula," Wang told reporters.
"Of course, we are willing to see all relevant sides making positive efforts on this. China will continue to play our constructive role," he added.
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