In a historic moment , US president Donald Trump met the supreme Leader of North Korea – Kim Jong-un at the “truce Village”
In a historic move, the Supreme Leader of North Korea – Kim Jong-un has met the President of United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump today, i.e., Sunday, June 30, 2019 at Panmunjom, the ‘truce village’ on the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea.
Accepting Trump’s invitation via twitter, Kim shook hands with Trump at DMZ. The last-minute meeting which was expected to be restricted to a 2 ½ minute handshake, lasted more than an hour. With this, Donald Trump has become the first sitting U.S. President to set foot in North Korea.
During the meeting, both the leaders agreed to resume denuclearisation talks. The talks halted after the failed meeting at Hanoi in Vietnam in February 2019. They had first met during a Summit in Singapore in June 2018.
In the past, several U.S. Presidents have visited the armistice line, wearing bomber jacket and binoculars, demonstrating U.S.’s support to South Korea. However, Trump broke the tradition, as he entered the highly sensitive DMZ in a business suit.
While entering the DMZ, Trump said, “I believe this is an expression of his willingness to eliminate all the unfortunate past and open a new future.”
On meeting Trump at DMZ, Kim said, “Good to see you again. I never expected to meet you at this place.”
In response, Trump said, “Big moment. Tremendous progress”. Terming their friendship as “particularly great”, Trump said that it was a “great day for the world” and that he was “proud to step over the line”.
Discussing the importance of world peace, both Kim and Trump have committed to complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. The talks will now be taken forward by U.S. Special Representative for North Korea – Stephen Biegun, who will be contacting his counterparts in North Korea.
Talking to press after meeting Kim, Trump said, “I asked him, ‘Would you like me to come across the line?’ “He said he would be honoured.”
Trump also told reporters that the situation in South and North Korea was very bad before he became the President of U.S. He also said that he must be accredited for initiating talks and ensuring stability and peace in the region.
However, it is to be noted that with Presidential polls around the corner in U.S., Donald Trump is leaving no stone unturned in demonstrating the achievements of his Government.
