Trump meets Lee; hopes 'nice' outcome from summit with Kim

Press Trust of India  |  Singapore 

US today hoped that a "nice" outcome could be reached from what he said would be a "very interesting meeting" with North Korean leader tomorrow.

He also thanked his hosts for their hospitality.

"We have a very interesting meeting in particular tomorrow, and I think things can work out very nicely," Trump said. "But we appreciate your hospitality and professionalism and your friendship. Thank you very much."

The US was accompanied by Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and

During the meeting, the officials also celebrated Trump's birthday. He is turning 72 on June 14.

posted a photo of Trump posing with the birthday cake. "Celebrating birthday, a bit early," he wrote.

The meeting was Trump's only scheduled public event today.

Earlier, Trump tweeted it was "great to be in Singapore, excitement is in the air".

Meanwhile, diplomats from the US and North met behind closed doors at The Ritz-Carlton hotel, in a bid to narrow their differences ahead of the Trump-Kim summit tomorrow.

Sung Kim, a former US to South who has been leading the US in talks with North Korean since last month, is said to be continuing the discussions with his counterpart in Singapore.

According to Robert Palladino, Trump intends to meet one on one with Kim.

"We can expect a one on one at the beginning," Palladino was quoted as saying by

During the flight from to Singapore, the president spent time meeting with his staff, reading materials, and preparing for his meetings in Singapore.

Kim yesterday held a meeting with Lee. He thanked Singapore hosting the summit as if it was "their own family affair".

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as the summit and the recent positive developments on the

Lee complimented the bold and admirable decision by Kim and Trump to come together for the Summit.

Lee wished Kim a success for the summit and expressed hope that the US-North meeting will advance the prospects for peace and stability in the and the larger region.

Singapore is one of the few countries that have diplomatic relations with both the US and

Trump and Kim are set to meet tomorrow at the on Sentosa for talks which could see dismantle its nuclear arsenal in return for economic help and security guarantees.

The summit - the first between a sitting US president and any North Korean Leader - will mark a turnaround of relations between Trump and Kim after a long-running exchange of furious threats and insults.

The two leaders have had an extraordinary up-and-down relationship over the past 18 months.

Some 2,500 journalists are reporting on the event, which is costing Singapore about SGD 20 million.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, June 11 2018. 12:45 IST