History was made today with a handshake between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.
What was once a previously unthinkable sight became reality and Trump says this is the beginning of their work towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
A momentous day in Singapore. The extension of hands from both nuclear rivals in front of U.S. and North Korean flags for the very first time.
“We will have a terrific relationship I have no doubt.” said Trump.
It’s a new chapter for the two countries and it played out with smiles, pats on the back and Trump guiding Kim Jong Un inside.
It was a day of firsts. Kim, who rules a nation among the worst human rights violators in the world, took questions from the foreign press.
“Old prejudices and practices work as obstacles on our way forward but we overcame all of them and we are here today.”
The meeting only lasted a couple of hours and a joint statement pledging security for the North Korean government was agreed to in exchange for a start to denuclearization with sanctions staying in place for now.
Trump’s pitch to Kim included a video, presented as a movie trailer, teasing the immense possibilities of a deal between the two leaders. Trump says he’s happy but there’s no timeline for the north to give up its nuclear weapons or details on how they will prove they’re gone.
“It does take a long time to pull off complete denuclearization. It takes a long time scientifically.”
In a concession to the north, Trump is stirring controversy with his announcement that he is halting U.S. military exercises with the south.
“We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money, unless and until we see the future negotiation is not going along like it should.”
The summit came to a close with the two leaders saying more meetings are likely to come in the future.
But will Kim Jong Un, a dictator who’s responsible for executing family and friends, killing hundreds of thousands of people and starving his country, live up to his promises?
According to Trump, “I think he’s, I think honestly I think he’s going to do these things. I may be wrong. I mean I may stand before you in six months and say hey I was wrong. I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that but I’ll find us – find some kind of an excuse.”
The details of the summit are expected to be discussed in greater detail at the White House next week but some American politicians say Kim seems to have completely out-negotiated Trump after the president agreed to pull American troops out of the peninsula.
