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US President Donald Trump shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday and welcomed the beginning of a "terrific relationship", a momentous step in an improbable courtship that has opened a new era for the worlds largest nuclear power and the most reclusive one. In a carefully choreographed encounter at around 9 a.m., Trump and Kim strode towards each other, arms extended, in the red-carpeted reception area of the grand Capella Hotel, in Singapore's Sentosa Island, reports The New York Times. This is the first time a sitting American President and North Korean leader have ever met. The two leaders then shared a 12-second handshake in the courtyard of the British-colonial style hotel against a backdrop of American and North Korean flags. Posing for photographs, Trump put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. Then the two, alone except for their interpreters, walked off to meet privately in an attempt to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme.
Credit: (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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Kim spoke in Korean, saying that "the old prejudices and practices worked as obstacles on our way forward, but we've overcome all of them, and we are here today". The goal of the summit was to ratify the outlines of a joint statement, to be released before the two men left Singapore later on Tuesday, that laid out a framework for additional talks, reports The Washington Post.
Credit: (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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![Kim Jong-un-Donald Trump,Kim Jong-un,Donald Trump,US President Donald Trump,North Korea Kim Jong-Un,Trump Kim Jong-UN]( "After their one-on-one meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes, the two leaders were joined by senior aides for an expanded bilateral meeting and working lunch. Asked how the earlier discussion went, Trump said: \"Very, very good,\" The Straits Times reported. On the US side, Trump's team included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.")
After their one-on-one meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes, the two leaders were joined by senior aides for an expanded bilateral meeting and working lunch. Asked how the earlier discussion went, Trump said: "Very, very good," The Straits Times reported. On the US side, Trump's team included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.
Credit: (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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![Kim Jong-un-Donald Trump,Kim Jong-un,Donald Trump,US President Donald Trump,North Korea Kim Jong-Un,Trump Kim Jong-UN]( "The North Korean delegation included Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Vice-Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Chol. The two delegations are sitting across a nearly 80-year-old, 4.3 metre-long teak wood table formerly used by the Chief Justice of Singapore in the daily administration of the court. It has been loaned by the Singapore National Gallery to the US Embassy.")
The North Korean delegation included Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Vice-Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Chol. The two delegations are sitting across a nearly 80-year-old, 4.3 metre-long teak wood table formerly used by the Chief Justice of Singapore in the daily administration of the court. It has been loaned by the Singapore National Gallery to the US Embassy.
Credit: (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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![Kim Jong-un-Donald Trump,Kim Jong-un,Donald Trump,US President Donald Trump,North Korea Kim Jong-Un,Trump Kim Jong-UN]( "On Monday, North Korea's Choe and US Ambassador Sung Kim led a working-level meeting to finalise last minute details of the summit. The two leaders reached Singapore on Sunday followed by their individual meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The summit, which was almost scrapped by a mercurial Trump last month, comes after a flurry of diplomatic activities and barrage of invective and insults traded between the US President and an equally aggressive Kim.")
On Monday, North Korea's Choe and US Ambassador Sung Kim led a working-level meeting to finalise last minute details of the summit. The two leaders reached Singapore on Sunday followed by their individual meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The summit, which was almost scrapped by a mercurial Trump last month, comes after a flurry of diplomatic activities and barrage of invective and insults traded between the US President and an equally aggressive Kim.
Credit: (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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![Kim Jong-un-Donald Trump,Kim Jong-un,Donald Trump,US President Donald Trump,North Korea Kim Jong-Un,Trump Kim Jong-UN]( "While the US seeks complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Kim fears giving up of all nukes may invite an invasion by Washington. In 2017, Pyongyang fired off ballistic missiles and even conducted the most powerful nuclear test till date infuriating the US. Its sole ally China was left embarrassed. The summit also marks a diplomatic landmark between the two countries with a long history of tense ties.")
While the US seeks complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Kim fears giving up of all nukes may invite an invasion by Washington. In 2017, Pyongyang fired off ballistic missiles and even conducted the most powerful nuclear test till date infuriating the US. Its sole ally China was left embarrassed. The summit also marks a diplomatic landmark between the two countries with a long history of tense ties.
Credit: (Photo by Kevin Lim/THE STRAITS TIMES/Handout/Getty Images)
