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US-North Korea: Trump and Kim Jong-un in symbolic DMZ meeting US-North Korea: Trump and Kim Jong-un in symbolic DMZ meeting
(about 1 hour later)
US President Donald Trump has shared a symbolic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the heavily fortified zone dividing the two Koreas. Donald Trump has become the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea, after meeting Kim Jong-un in the area between the two Koreas.
Mr Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea after meeting Mr Kim at the demilitarised zone (DMZ). After posing for handshakes, Mr Trump met the North Korean leader for over an hour in the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ).
Critics have dismissed it as pure political theatre, but others say it could set the scene for future talks. The two men agreed to set up teams to resume stalled nuclear talks.
Their last summit ended abruptly with no progress on denuclearisation talks. Their last summit broke down in February with no progress on denuclearisation in North Korea.
What happened at the DMZ? In their third face-to-face encounter in just over a year, the two leaders met at the tense area that has divided the peninsula since hostilities in the Korea War ended in 1953.
The leaders, in their third face-to-face encounter in just over a year, met at the tense area that has divided the peninsula since the Korean War ended in 1953. Numerous previous US presidents have visited the armistice line, largely in a show of US support for the South. But Mr Trump changed the optics of the visit, eschewing binoculars and a bomber jacket for a business suit.
In a meeting apparently arranged after Mr Trump invited Mr Kim on Twitter, they shook hands across the demarcation line before Mr Trump briefly crossed into North Korean territory, a symbolic milestone in the diplomacy between the two countries. In a meeting apparently arranged after Mr Trump invited Mr Kim on Twitter on Saturday, they shook hands across the demarcation line before Mr Trump briefly crossed into North Korean territory, a symbolic milestone.
Numerous previous US presidents have visited the 1953 armistice line between the Koreas, largely in a show of US support for the South. "Good to see you again. I never expected to meet you at this place," a smiley Mr Kim told Mr Trump through an interpreter in an encounter broadcast live on international television.
But Mr Trump changed the optics of the visit, eschewing binoculars and a bomber jacket for a business suit. His meeting with Mr Kim, and the footsteps into North Korea made history. "Big moment... Tremendous progress," Mr Trump said.
"It's a great honour. A lot of progress has been made... This has been a particularly great friendship," Mr Trump said of the North Korean leader. "It's a great day for the world." Mr Kim, looking relaxed, then crossed into South Korea, and alongside Mr Trump said: "I believe this is an expression of his willingness to eliminate all the unfortunate past and open a new future."
Smiling, Mr Kim responded: "I believe this is an expression of his willingness to eliminate unfortunate past and into a new future." They both walked to a building known as the Freedom House on the South Korean side, where they had private talks.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined the two after their handshake. Speaking alongside Mr Trump in a rare statement to the press, Mr Kim said this was a symbol of their "excellent" relationship.
Mr Kim then crossed into South Korea and, speaking alongside Mr Trump in a rare statement to the press, said the meeting was a symbol of the "excellent" relationship between him and Mr Trump. Calling their friendship "particularly great", Mr Trump said it was a "great day for the world" and that he was "proud to step over the line" between the Koreas. He later said he had invited Mr Kim to visit the US.
President Trump said it was a "truly historic" moment and that he was "proud to step over the line" between the Koreas.
Can it lead to something?Can it lead to something?
Many people are looking at these pictures today and not believing their eyes, including myself. We were told to expect a two-minute handshake and a short meeting, but the two leaders were in there for just over an hour. Donald Trump has made history here. Kim Jong-un has come all the way from Pyongyang to meet him
As amazing as this moment is, it is worth pointing out we still have no working level talks between the two countries, there seems to be no desire to look into the details of a denuclearisation deal. This is extraordinary and is being billed as historic. But despite the personal chemistry between Mr Trump and Mr Kim, it does not mean they are any closer to nailing down the details of a deal.
North Korea still has nuclear weapons, is there any way they will give them up? Mr Trump told Mr Kim: "I'll invite you to the White House right now." Then came a reciprocal invitation from Mr Kim: "When the time is right, I'd like you to come to Pyongyang."
It is an extraordinary moment and it does show that these two people have personal chemistry, but can that lead to anything else? That will be the real test of today. These invitations allow people to see something is happening between these two leaders. However, unless the details of a deal are decided upon, who knows where we will be a year or two from now.
Why will this meeting be significant? How are US-North Korea relations?
With no time for the all-important backroom diplomacy, it was expected to be largely a photo opportunity. However, the dramatic meeting will be seen as a sign of their ongoing commitment to the denuclearisation talks. Negotiations with North Korea to try to convince it to abandon its controversial nuclear programme, reached a peak last year when Mr Trump and Mr Kim had a historic meeting in Singapore.
Negotiations with North Korea, to try to convince it to abandon its controversial nuclear programme, reached a peak last year when Mr Trump and Mr Kim had a historic meeting in Singapore.
They both committed to the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, but without clarifying what that meant.They both committed to the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, but without clarifying what that meant.
It was hoped their second meeting, in Hanoi in February, would make some concrete agreement about North Korea handing over its nuclear programme in exchange for some of the tight sanctions against it being lifted.It was hoped their second meeting, in Hanoi in February, would make some concrete agreement about North Korea handing over its nuclear programme in exchange for some of the tight sanctions against it being lifted.
But those talks ended with no deal, as they failed to agree on the pace at which sanctions should be eased. Since then the negotiations have stalled, though Mr Kim and Mr Trump have exchanged letters recently.But those talks ended with no deal, as they failed to agree on the pace at which sanctions should be eased. Since then the negotiations have stalled, though Mr Kim and Mr Trump have exchanged letters recently.
What is the DMZ?
The DMZ, which runs about 4km (2.5 miles) wide and 250km long, has divided the peninsula since the Korean War ended in 1953.
Though that area, by definition, has no military installations or personnel, beyond it lies one of the most heavily militarised borders in the world.
The Joint Security Area (JSA) located at the Panmunjom village straddles the Military Demarcation Line and is where all negotiations between the two countries are held.
Tourists can also go to the JSA when relations between the two countries - still technically at war - allow it. No US sitting US president has been inside it. Bill Clinton once described it as the "scariest place on Earth".