Singapore summit LIVE: Kim says meet 'good prelude for peace', Trump agrees

Will Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un reach a deal on Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, taking a big leap towards world peace? Watch this space for live updates

BS Web Team Last Updated at June 12, 2018 08:50 IST

US President Donald Trump and DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un during the one-on-one bilateral meeting with their interpreters. Photo: @Scavino45

Here's what body language experts are saying about Trump, Kim's handshake In their first moments of meeting each other, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un both sought to project a sense of command, reported Reuters, quoting a body language expert. Karen Leong, Managing Director of Singapore-headquartered Influence Solutions, said the first 60 seconds showed both leaders seeking to take charge in their encounter. Oil prices edged up along with global markets on Tuesday on cautious optimism over the outcome of the summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore, reported Reuters. Brent crude futures were trading at $76.56 per barrel at 0201, up 10 cents from their last close. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.24 a barrel, up 14 cents from their last settlement. We overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit & I believe that this is good for the peace: Kim Jong Un, North Korean Leader at #SingaporeSummit (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/1vZ5fBVDK2 — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018 According to Bloomberg, Trump responded by saying, "I do, too." Looking Kim right in the eye, Trump added, "We will solve it, we will be successful." As the two leaders sat accompanied by top aides an hour into their meeting in Sentosa, Kim said that he believed that this was "a good prelude for peace", reported Bloomberg. After the one-on-one meeting with Kim Jong-un, Trump sounded optimistic about his ability to persuade North Korea to let go of its nuclear weapons programme, reported AP.

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his one-on-one meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was "very, very good" and they have an "excellent relationship", according to media reports.

The much-awaited summit between Trump and Kim is underway in Singapore today.

Trump and Kim met at the resort island of Sentosa along with their respective translators. The two leaders shared a historic handshake as they met for the first time. The two clasped hands for a long while as they posed for photos in front of a row of US and North Korean flags.

Trump and Kim, who have traded a volley of insults and even threatened each other of nuclear war, are meeting at Capella Hotel, a five-star resort on Singapore’s Sentosa Island. The meeting could go one, two, or even three days, Trump has told reporters in Washington.

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Trump’s goal is “ridding the United States and the world of threats posed by North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes”, secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters on June 7, according to Bloomberg. Kim will likely be eager to strike an agreement that eases sanctions and brings an end to the Korean War while allowing him to keep at least part of his nuclear arsenal.

But experts are skeptical. Many think the meeting, at best, will likely provide a roadmap for future talks, each round of which will require difficult and complex negotiations. Most important, few believe Kim is actually willing to give up the nuclear weapons that cement his grip on power.

First Published: Tue, June 12 2018. 08:45 IST