Kim tries to show 'image of openness' through Singapore tour By Kim Jae-kyoungSINGAPORE ― Is it a sign that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is interested in opening up his reclusive regime?Or was it just his gesture to show his confidence ahead of a historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump?These are some of the questions arising after Kim, who arrived in Singapore Sunday for the landmark meeting, took a surprise nighttime tour of Singapore's iconic sites, Monday.After leaving the St. Regis Hotel at 9:10 p.m., Kim first visited the city-state's famous tourist attractions, including Gardens by the Bay, the award-winning nature park, and the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resorts.The resorts accommodate casinos, hotels, convention centers and shopping malls. Kim visited the observation deck of the 57-storey SkyPark at the MBS.During his two-hour tour, Kim, who was accompanied by his sister Kim Yo-jong and Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, took selfies with Singapore officials smiling for the camera and even waving to the public.The Straits Times reported that Kim was seen strolling on the bridge ― surrounded bJun 12, 2018
Moments after their first encouter North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and American President Donald Trump shake hands at Capella Hotel in Singapore, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Choi Ha-youngNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un made another impressive appearance before the world, this time with his greeting message in English, at the momentous summit with American President Donald Trump held on Sentosa Island, Singapore, Tuesday.Both leaders shook hands and officially began the first summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea, decades-long mortal enemies.Kim reportedly greeted Trump in English, saying “Nice to meet you, Mr. President,” as they sat down after the historic handshake. Kim, who spent his childhood in Switzerland, can speak and understand English, but this was the first time for outsiders to see him use the language.Through the series of summits, aimed at the exchange of the North’s denuclearization and security guarantee, Kim has renewed perceptions about himself — obviously to be recognized as a leader of a normal state rather than a “dictator.” When he met Jun 12, 2018
Kim takes center stage of global diplomacy North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump sign a joint statement following their talks at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa in Singapore, Tuesday. / Reuters-Yonhap By Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore, Tuesday, apparently helped him change his reputation from a “madman” to a “normal leader,” analysts says.The agreement the two leaders signed also benefited Kim in his efforts to transform his image from a “rocket man” into a global leader who strives for peace and denuclearization.Trump had called Kim a “madman” and “rocket man” in a derogatory manner for carrying out a series of nuclear and ballistic missiles tests, assassinating his elder half-brother Kim Jong-nam, executing his aides for petty reasons, starving his people to death and torturing and killing political prisoners.But Trump was courteous and respectful toward Kim as they shook hands during live coverage at the Capella Hotel before the summit.The leaders aJun 12, 2018
Trump, Kim sign agreement on denuclearization, security of North Korea U.S. President Donald Trump, right, reaches for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un after they signed documents at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, in Singapore. AP-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged on Tuesday to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula while Washington committed to provide security guarantees for its old enemy."President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK and Chairman Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said a joint statement issued after their historic summit in Singapore. DPRK is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea. Trump said he expected the denuclearization process to start "very, very quickly." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean officials would hold follow-up negotiations "at the earliest possible date," the statement said.It, however, did not give any details on how denuclearization would be achieved. The document also made nJun 12, 2018
South Koreans skeptical about peace after summit Citizens watch a live broadcast of the North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Suh-yoon, Jung Da-minSouth Koreans of different age groups expressed mixed feelings about the prospect of peace on the Korean peninsula following the summit between the United States and North Korea.Many said they welcomed the U.S. and North Korea moving to narrow their differences, but remained cautious and skeptical. “I was not entirely optimistic about the summit because it almost got canceled once,” said Yoon Yong-jin, 20, a university student.The summit between the U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had been canceled once. On May 24, North Korea began demolishing its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Trump, however, said on June 2 that the U.S.-North Korea summit would be back on track following the two Koreas' surprise summit on May 26. Young men watched the Trump-Kim summit with heightened anticipation.“I feel safer amid the recent progress towards peace with North Korea,” said a man, 21, whJun 12, 2018
Trump: 'I'd absolutely invite Kim to White House' U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un looks at the signed document that acknowledges the progress of the talks and a pledge to keep the momentum going, after their summit. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoU.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would “absolutely” invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the White House.After the two leaders signed a “comprehensive” document about their agreements during an historic summit in Singapore, Trump said, “Absolutely, I would” invite Kim.Before their meeting, Trump had dangled the prospect of a White House visit for Kim.The two characterized the document they signed as “historic.” “We're signing a very important document, pretty comprehensive document, and we've had a really great time together, a great relationship,” Trump said.“We have developed a special bond. The meeting was far better than anybody ever predicted.”Asked about denuclearization, Trump said, “We are starting the process very, very quickly.”Kim said hJun 12, 2018
FULL TEXT Joint statement of Trump, Kim U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un sign documents that acknowledge the progress of the talks and pledge to keep momentum going, after their summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore June 12. Reuters Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the Singapore SummitPresident Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of a new U.S.-DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peach regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete dJun 12, 2018
'I'm so happy': Dennis Rodman weeps as Trump and Kim meet Former NBA player Dennis Rodman gets emotional during an interview with CNN on June 12. Screen capture from CNNFormer NBA star Dennis Rodman openly wept on television in a live interview from Singapore as President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met for the first time. The eccentric former reality television star is one of the few westerners to have spent time with Kim during multiple visits to Pyongyang and the two struck up an unlikely friendship over their shared love of basketball. Rodman also goes back years with Trump and appeared on his “Celebrity Apprentice” show. In an emotional with CNN's Chris Cuomo, Rodman, wearing sunglasses and a “Make America Great Again”' hat, said he had received a call from the White House ahead of Trump's historic meeting with Kim ― the first between a sitting president and North Korean leader. “Yes, Donald Trump reached out,”' Rodman said, telling Cuomo he'd received a call from a person he described as Trump's secretary. “She called me and said, 'Dennis, Donald Trump is so proud of you. Jun 12, 2018
Trump, Kim chat over lunch of beef short ribs In this image made from video provided by Host Broadcaster Mediacorp Pte Ltd,, U.S. President Donald Trump, second from left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, fourth from right, arrive for a working lunch at Capella Hotel in Singapore, Tuesday. Host Broadcaster Mediacorp Pte Ltd via AP U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are chatting over a lunch of beef short ribs, sweet and sour crispy pork, and braised codfish.Details released by the White House show that lunch began Tuesday with a prawn cocktail and avocado salad, and green mango kerabu with honey lime dressing and octopus.Side dishes included potato dauphinois, steamed broccolini, fried rice and Asian vegetables.Dessert included dark chocolate tartlet and Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream.Among those joining the leaders on the U.S. side were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House chief of staff John Kelly and national security adviser John Bolton. The North Korean delegation included Kim Yong-chol, a top aide to Kim Jong-un who recently met Trump at the White House. (AP)Jun 12, 2018
Key developments leading up to US-North Korea summit The following is a chronology of major developments in the relations between the United States and North Korea in 2018 leading up to the first-ever summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa on Tuesday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in's top security advisor Chung Eui-yong, left, meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the ruling Workers' Party headquarters in Pyongyang, March 6. Korea Times file2018 March 8 ― Chung Eui-yong, South Korean President Moon Jae-in's top security advisor, and Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington and convey North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's intention to invite him to Pyongyang. Trump accepts the invitation and announces that he will meet Kim in May. March 31-April 1 ― Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and nominee for U.S. secretary of state, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang to prepare for the summit. April 9 ― U.S. President Donald Trump expresses his hope of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un eJun 12, 2018
