Trump takes plaudits and backs Kim as a man the US can do business with
US president will suspend ‘war games’ while North Korean leader makes denuclearisation pledge
DONALD TRUMP unexpectedly suspended “war games” on the Korean peninsula as Kim Jong-un signed an agreement to back “complete denuclearisation”.
The president said joint Us-south Korean military exercises were “very provocative” and “tremendously expensive”, attacking a policy his own administration has pursued until now.
Mr Trump also floated the possibility of one day pulling America’s tens of thousands of troops out of South Korea, though he said the move was not currently under consideration.
Both policy changes have been long-called for by the North Korean government but repeatedly rejected by the Trump administration.
The announcements appeared to catch the South Koreans by surprise, with their president’s spokesman calling for a “more clear understanding” of what Mr Trump meant.
The US has been carrying out joint military exercises for years in the region as a signal of its military alliance with Seoul, and as a show of strength against North Korean aggression.
Mr Trump was unapologetic when he revealed the end of “war games” in the region, insisting that the North Koreans had given up more than the Americans to reach a deal.
He said in a press conference after the Singapore summit: “It is a very great day, it is a very great moment, in the history of the world.”
He predicted Kim would start to denuclearise “very quickly” and revealed that the North Korean leader had already agreed to destroy a missile engine testing site.
Historic agreement
The climax of Mr Trump’s meeting with Kim – the first between a sitting North Korean and American leader – was the signing of a joint agreement.
The 400-word statement, referring to the North as the DPRK, or Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, followed more than four hours of talks, first between the leaders one-on-one and then with a wider group of advisers.
It read: “President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new USDPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
“President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”
The statement went on to list four specific pledges that both Mr Trump and Kim agreed to stand by.
The first was that both countries would establish “new relations” in the pursuit of “peace and prosperity” – an attempt to draw a line under the insults and threats of last year.
The second said that America and North Korea would “join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace re- gime on the Korean peninsula”. The third said that Kim’s regime “commits to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula” – a key demand from the Americans.
And the fourth promised that the remains of fallen US soldiers who died fighting in the Korean War would be repatriated to America.
‘We got to know each other well in a very confined period of time’
Concerns emerge
Mr Trump touted the agreement as “very comprehensive” and said that denuclearisation was “going to happen” at a press conference yesterday.
However, critics questioned how watertight the assurances written in the agreement were and whether they were detailed enough.
The phrase “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation” did not appear in the document, despite the US insisting Kim agree to the objective, which North Korea has touted several times before. There were also no specific promises about exactly what parts of his nuclear programme Kim would give up or when.
There is also the issue that Pyongyang frequently refers to denuclearisation of the “Korean Peninsula”, which would imply disarmament on all sides.
Mr Trump warned that denuclearisation takes a “long time scientifically” and repeatedly refused to give a timetable for developments.
However, he said that economic sanctions would not be lifted nor a new US embassy established in Pyongyang until he saw proof of denuclearisation.
Both the Americans and the North Koreans have committed to future talks, which will be led on the US side by Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state.
Mr Trump said he “absolutely” would invite Kim to the White House and expressed enthusiasm for visiting North Korea, but said no dates had been set.
‘Tremendous relationship’
Mr Trump hailed his “tremendous” relationship with Kim and said he believed he could trust the North Korean leader.
The US president said their talks were “honest, direct and productive”, adding: “We got to know each other well in a very confined period of time.”
Asked if he trusted Kim, Mr Trump replied: “I do.” Pushed to explain, Mr Trump said: “I know when someone wants to deal and I know when they don’t.”
Throughout the day, both leaders displayed surprisingly warm body language towards each other, given that they spent most of the last year trading insults and threats.
At numerous points during the summit, they were seen patting each other on the back or arm, smiling and laughing together and sharing compliments.
Mr Trump said Kim was “very talented”, noting how he had taken over the North Korean leadership while still in his 20s – though acknowledging that Kim had “run it tough”.
Mr Trump said: “Anyone can make war but only the most courageous can make peace.”
He later said in an interview about Kim: “He’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that.”
‘I know when someone wants to deal and I know when they don’t’
Human rights
Mr Trump revealed he had discussed North Korea’s human rights record “relatively briefly” with Kim, having been put under pressure to show he took the issue seriously.
A 2014 report from a United Nations Human Rights Council commission found the regime had committed multiple violations including arbitrary detention, torture [and] executions.
Asked about human rights, Mr Trump said: “It was discussed relatively briefly compared to denuclearisation … They will be doing things. I think he wants to do things.”
Reporters repeatedly pressed the president to square his praise for the North Korean leader with what was happening in the country, including the imprisonment of political dissidents.
Mr Trump mentioned Otto Warmbier, the US college student who was imprisoned in North Korea and died shortly after his return to America last year.
The US president praised the relatives of Mr Warmbier and wondered whether the progress in talks could have happened without the tragedy, which cast a spotlight on the regime.
Elsewhere in his hour-long press conference, Mr Trump said he hoped an end to the Korean War, which is technically still running 68 years after it began, could be secured soon.
He also praised the leaders of Japan, South Korea and China as well as Kim himself for the progress made on the issue of denuclearisation.
‘He’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that’