‘Special moment for world peace’ as Kim and Trump set date
President flies the flag and welcomes detainees home ahead of summit in Singapore on June 12
DONALD TRUMP’S historic meeting with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, will take place in Singapore on June 12.
The US president broke the news on Twitter, writing: “We will both try to make it a very special moment for world peace!”
Singapore was selected ahead of other possible locations – such as Mongolia and the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea – because it is seen as a neutral space, where both the US and Pyongyang have embassies. It is also close to North Korea – a crucial factor as the regime’s Soviet-era aircraft reportedly cannot fly long distances without stopping.
The meeting marks a remarkable turnaround in the two leaders’ relationship given they spent much of last year trading insults.
Mr Trump dubbed Kim “little rocket man” and warned of “fire and fury” in 2017, but yesterday thanked the “excellent” Kim for allowing the return of three US detainees.
The president personally welcomed home the men – Kim Dong-cheol, Kim Hakseong and Tony Kim – at 3am yesterday as they touched down in America.
The North’s nuclear programme will be the main topic of conversation at the summit. Kim has indicated he is prepared to denuclearise in return for sanctions being lifted. However the Trump administration has stressed that its “maximum pressure” policy will not change until Kim starts wrapping up the programme.
Ben Riley-smith, Nicola Smith
Rozina Sabur
DONALD TRUMP personally welcomed home three American detainees released by North Korea in a middle-ofthe-night ceremony that was broadcast live around the world.
The US president climbed aboard a plane carrying Kim Dong-cheol, Kim Hak-seong and Tony Kim just before 3am yesterday as a crowd of hundreds of journalists and soldiers watched on.
The group emerged minutes later, with Mr Trump shaking hands and applauding as the returned men made the peace sign and waved to those cheering below.
The former detainees, who had all been held captive for more than a year, appeared slightly stooped but otherwise in good health as they descended the plane’s stairs without help.
Mr Trump thanked Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader who approved the release, saying he had been “excellent” to the three “incredible men”.
“This is a wonderful thing that he released the folks early. That was a big thing. Very important to me,” Mr Trump said. Asked why Kim had agreed to the move, Mr Trump said: “I really think he wants to do something [to] bring that country into the real world. I really believe that.”
The three men had been held between one and three years. One was charged with spying and the other two, both academics, were accused of “hostile acts”. Speaking on the Tarmac alongside Mr Trump, Kim Dong-cheol said the release was “like a dream”.
He said he had got sick while in captivity but had been treated.
The men’s return is a diplomatic triumph for Mr Trump, paving the way for his meeting with Kim on June 12 in Singapore as relations thaw between the two countries.
The move was arranged through Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, who made a second trip to North Korea to broker the deal.
Their arrival at Joint Base Andrews on the edge of Washington was orchestrated with customary panache by Mr Trump. A giant American flag was hoisted by two cranes behind the plane, creating the desired backdrop for the cameras, while airmen stationed there created a cheering crowd.
Mr Trump’s wife Melania was also there to greet the men, as was Mike Pence, the US vice-president, his wife Karen and Mr Pompeo.
The US president also paid his “warmest respects” to the parents of Otto Warmbier, the US college student imprisoned in North Korea who died shortly after returning home last year.
Focus now turns to Mr Trump’s meeting with Kim, just a few weeks away. Last year the leaders were trading insults but in 2018 tensions have eased.
Supporters of the president have leapt on the development as proof that his policy of “extreme pressure” towards the regime is working.
The pair will talk about North Korea’s nuclear programme. Kim has said he is willing to denuclearise, though it is unclear exactly what that means.
Kim is also likely to want a tit-for-tat lifting of sanctions, but the Trump administration has said North Korea must denuclearise before any change in policy.