Face to Face: Kim, Trump Shake Hands, Meet Privately

Upbeat Trump predicts they'll solve 'big problem,' have 'terrific relationship'
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 11, 2018 8:09 PM CDT
Updated Jun 11, 2018 9:24 PM CDT
Face to Face: Kim, Trump Shake Hands
President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands ahead of their meeting at Capella Hotel in Singapore.   (Host Broadcaster Mediacorp Pte Ltd via AP)

The big moment arrived: President Trump and Kim Jong Un—two leaders who were exchanging military threats and personal insults not too long ago—met face-to-face and shook hands, then had a private meeting of about 40 minutes in Singapore that left Trump predicting big progress on the nuclear issue. "By working together, we will get it taken care of," he said. The initial greeting was a friendly one, with Trump grasping the arm of his fellow world leader during the handshake. (See the video.) "We will have a terrific relationship," Trump told reporters shortly after the greeting, reports USA Today. Kim, for his part, said "it has not been easy to get here," adding that "the old prejudices and practices worked as obstacles, but we have overcome them and we are here today," per the Guardian.

After the ceremonial introduction, the two men met with only their interpreters in tow, then walked together along a balcony as they headed to a larger meeting with aides. Trump told reporters from the balcony that the meeting was "very, very good" and predicted he and Kim "will solve a big problem, a big dilemma," reports the AP. It was difficult to hear the two men, but the AP adds that Kim appeared to agree with the optimism. White House officials have been downplaying the idea that a major breakthrough will result from the historic meeting on Sentosa Island. Instead, the big hope is that the summit will lead to a blueprint for negotiators from both countries to follow that would lead to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. In return, North Korea wants a guarantee from the US that it won't try to overthrow the regime. (More Kim Jong Un stories.)

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