Kim meets Trump one-on-one, starting with a firm handshake
CGTN
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June 12, 2018. The eyes of the world are on Singapore.
History has been made.
For the first time ever, a Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader met with an incumbent president of the United States.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) meets US President Donald Trump (R) at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) meets US President Donald Trump (R) at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
Kim Jong Un met with Donald Trump on Tuesday at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa island. They shook hands, talked together and laughed in front of the press.
Kim: 'It was not easy to get here.'
"The past worked as fetters on our limbs," Kim told reporters, before his one-on-on meeting with Trump.
"The old prejudices and practices worked as obstacles on our way forward, but we overcame all of them and we are here today."
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un visits the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, June 11, 2018, one day before his summit with US President Donald Trump. /VCG Photo
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un visits the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, June 11, 2018, one day before his summit with US President Donald Trump. /VCG Photo
Trump: 'I feel really great.'
Trump voiced optimism as he sat next to the DPRK leader.
"We are going to have a great discussion and, I think, tremendous success. It will be tremendously successful and it's my honor, and we will have a terrific relationship," the US president said.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (R) at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (R) at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
Trump had said earlier that he would size up the DPRK leader "within the first minute" of the Singapore summit.
The two leaders then took part in a short one-on-one meeting, that included just two interpreters, discussing denuclearization and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
After the one-on-one meeting, the two sat down for an expanded bilateral meeting, between the two delegations.
Kim arrives earlier
Kim, 33, arrived at the venue seven minutes earlier than Trump in order to show respect, according to Korean media.
The motorcade of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un travels towards Sentosa for his meeting with US President Donald Trump, in Singapore June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
The motorcade of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un travels towards Sentosa for his meeting with US President Donald Trump, in Singapore June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
At 71-yeasr-old, Trump is almost twice Kim's age.
The press pool in Singapore said it's cultural for younger people to arrive earlier than the elders.
As the world waits with bated breath for the outcome of the high-stakes summit, the two sides seemed optimistic about the meeting.
Trump said earlier that he has a "good feeling" about the summit. Pyongyang also expressed a willingness to establish "new DPRK-US relations," reported KCNA news agency.