Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday that he hopes the Trump-Kim summit will be "a success and bring us a complete denuclearization, peace and a new era" as he watched the live broadcast of the summit before a meeting of the ROK Cabinet in his presidential Blue House.

Moon smiled, nodded and applauded alongside his cabinet ministers as he watched the meeting of US President Donald Trump and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un, in Singapore.

Read more about the updated coverage of the historic meeting between Trump and Kim

He had "a sleepless night" because of excitement ahead of the meeting, his office said.

Images of Trump and Kim exchanging handshakes and warm words drew jubilant reactions in Seoul and hopes for a new beginning with Pyongyang. /AFP Photo

As the historic first meeting between a sitting US president and DPRK leader began in Singapore, images of Trump and Kim exchanging handshakes and warm words drew jubilant reactions in Seoul and hopes for a new beginning in the bilateral relations with Pyongyang.

Moon has met Kim twice in recent months and helped arrange the Trump-Kim summit.

(With inputs from AFP)