In a historic summit, US President Donald and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Singapore on Tuesday. This is the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries.
Mr. Trump said he “absolutely” will invite Kim to the White House. Mr. Trump said he thinks the summit went “better than anybody could have expected.”
As they began the summit, Mr. Trump said he thinks he and Kim will have a “terrific relationship,” and Kim, through a translator, said North Korea had to overcome a number of “obstacles” to get to this moment.
Mr. Trump and Kim participated in a one-on-one meeting, with translators only, followed by an expanded meeting including their top advisers, and a working lunch.
Trump suggests U.S. will cease military exercises with South Korea for now
Mr. Trump said it would be “inappropriate” for the U.S. to perform joint military exercises with South Korea while working out this deal with North Korea, declaring such “war games” to be “provocative.”
Sanctions remain until nukes are gone, Trump says
Mr. Trump said sanctions will remain in place until the nukes are gone. The sanctions will go away “once we can be sure the nukes are no longer a factor,” he said.
Trump claims Kim has accepted invitation to White House
Mr. Trump not only claimed he invited Kim to the White House, but claimed Kim has “accepted” that invitation.
Trump says human rights were “discussed” but only “briefly”
Mr. Trump said human rights were brought up during his conversation with Kim.
“It was discussed,” Mr. Trump said, adding that the issue was discussed “relatively briefly.”
On troops in South Korea, Trump says U.S. won’t be reducing anything
Mr. Trump, asked if he would be open to reducing troop levels in South Korea, said the U.S. won’t be reducing anything.
“We’re not reducing anything,” Mr. Trump said.
But he quickly added that eventually he would like to see fewer Americans in South Korea.
Trump says Kim told him North Korea is destroying a testing site
Mr. Trump claimed Kim told him North Korea is already destroying a “major” missile testing site.
The president claimed that agreement came after the two signed the document.
“The past does not have to define the future,” Mr. Trump sys
“The past does not have to define the future,” Mr. Trump said, suggesting that the two nations need not be enemies.
Mr. Trump claimed that, this time, it won’t be like past administrations’ attempts to deal with North Korea.
Trump says it’s been a “tremendous” 24 hours
Mr. Trump claimed it’s been a “tremendous” 24 hours, stepping to the podium to speak with reporters in a press conference.
The president said it’s his “honor” to address the people of the world after the summit. The president said his meeting with Kim was honest, direct and productive.
Trump tweets out video footage of his meetings with Kim
Mr. Trump tweeted out this video piecing together his meetings with Kim.
