With the world watching
Trump expresses optimism amid summit preparations
On the eve of their unprecedented summit, President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un prepared for a meeting that could define the fate of millions, along with their own political futures.
Trump forecast a “nice” outcome, while Kim spent the day out of view as both sides finalized preparations for the meeting, which was to kick off at 9 a.m. today with a handshake between Trump and Kim, an image sure to be devoured around the world. Trump and Kim planned to meet one on one, joined only by translators, for up to two hours before admitting their respective advisers, a U.S. official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations and insisted on anonymity.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Monday that ongoing talks between the two countries were advancing well, but stressed the meeting would be the beginning of a process that would “set the conditions for future talks.”
Pompeo added that the U.S. was prepared to take action to provide North Korea with “sufficient certainty” that denuclearization “is not something that ends badly for them.”
He would not say whether that included the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula, but stressed the context of the discussions was “radically different than ever before.”
“I can only say this,” Pompeo said. “We are prepared to take what will be security assurances that are different, unique, than America’s been willing to provide previously.”
The summit will be the first between a North Korean leader and a sitting American president. In Singapore, the island city-state hosting the summit, the sense of anticipation was palpable, with people lining spotless streets Monday waving cellphones as Trump headed to meet Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
As Trump and Lee sat down for a working lunch at the Istana house, Trump sounded optimistic, telling Lee, “we’ve got a very interesting meeting in particular tomorrow, and I think things can work out very nicely.”
Trump also called the leaders of South Korea and Japan in advance of the summit, Pompeo said.
Meanwhile, U.S. and North Korean officials huddled at the Ritz-carlton hotel Monday ahead of the sit-down aimed at resolving a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.
A second round of meetings was planned for the afternoon as officials worked to lay the groundwork for progress to be made today, according to the official familiar with the preparations. Delegates were outlining specific goals for what Trump and Kim should try to accomplish and multiple scenarios for how key issues can be resolved.
The meetings also served as an ice breaker of sorts as the teams worked to get better acquainted after decades of minimal U.s.-north Korea contact. In a sign of lingering tensions, the North Koreans have been closely scrutinizing all American staffers are slated to be in any U.s.-north Korea meetings, including translators, photographers and logistical staff, asking how they can be sure the American are not actually spies.
Trump and Kim arrived in Singapore on Sunday, both staying at luxurious and heavily guarded hotels less than half a mile apart, with Trump at the Shangri-la Hotel and Kim at the St. Regis Hotel.
Pompeo, the former CIA director, spent the morning preparing with his top advisers, aides said. He was joined in Singapore by Ambassador Sung Kim, the U.S. envoy to the Philippines, and Ambassador Michael Mckinley, a career diplomat Pompeo recently tapped to be his senior adviser.
Pompeo travelled twice to Pyongyang in recent months to lay the groundwork for Trump’s meeting, becoming the most senior member of Trump’s team to spend time with Kim face to face.