After the theatrical gesture, both leaders pledged to restart stalled nuclear negotiations between the two countries.
SEOUL, South Korea — President Donald Trump on Sunday took a step no other sitting American president had before, crossing into North Korea with its leader, Kim Jong Un — a theatrical gesture meant to kick start stalled nuclear negotiations between the two countries.
And, after meeting privately for nearly an hour, the two leaders pledged to do just that.
“This was a great day,” Trump told reporters. “It will be even more historic if something comes out [of it].”
It was a made-for-TV moment for the reality show-groomed president that unfolded at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Trump approached the border from the south, while Kim approached from the north. The two met at the line demarcating the two countries, grinned and shook hands.
“It is good to see you again,” Kim said through an interpreter. “I never expected to meet you in this place.”
“Big moment,” Trump said. “Big progress.”
Trump said Kim then asked him if he would like to cross into North Korea. Trump said he would be honored and walked about 20 steps into the country.
The two leaders then decamped to Freedom House, a small building on the southern side of the border that has been used for occasional talks between North and South Korean officials for two decades. They emerged 53 minutes later and announced they would appoint teams to restart nuclear negotiations.
“This has a lot of significance because it means that we want to bring an end to the unpleasant past and try to create a new future, so it’s a very courageous and determined act,” Kim told reporters.
Trump then invited Kim to the White House, which would mark an even more dramatic first.
But it remains to be seen if the grand gesture leads to any progress in getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, Trump’s long-stated goal.
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President Donald Trump on Sunday took a step no other sitting American president had before, crossing into North Korea with its leader, Kim Jong Un https://t.co/czpVSYm9PG
— POLITICO (@politico) June 30, 2019
This is exactly where we were fifteen months ago. Just saying. https://t.co/YRRmySU3sq
— Vipin Narang (@NarangVipin) June 30, 2019
If Obama had prostrated himself in front of this brutal, evil dictator like Trump continues to prostrate himself in front of this brutal, evil dictator, Republicans would be screaming in anger. https://t.co/Z68kkfpRU6
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) June 30, 2019
In which Tucker Carlson decides that he has enough money and what he really wants is attention for however much longer his aging, insane demo is going to be alive and watching him. https://t.co/WqhqYUDlnW
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 30, 2019
Kim Jong Un could be seen clapping as Trump stepped onto North Korean territory.
Otto Warmbier was unavailable for comment.— MikeBates (@MikeBates) June 30, 2019
When Obama called Iran from his limo, I thought it was a terrible idea, and sucking up to a bad regime.
At least he didn't do the Hokey Pokey over the DMZ while a murderer clapped at him.— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 30, 2019
Since I am annoyingly nonpartisan, I just want to put this out there: If Obama had met with Kim — anywhere — never mind on North Korean soil without any real commitments on denuclearization, he would have been hammered — hammered! — by the right. And rightfully so.
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) June 30, 2019
“There’s a charade going on right now. It’s called diplomacy".
– Cindy Warmbierhttps://t.co/BMnamw9m7L— mwy (@wwredpepper) June 30, 2019
Trump thinks so much about the media and his image. He wants a grab for history. He should chose his words carefully at this moment in the DMZ. Instead he says: “I say that for the press, they have no appreciation for what is being done, none." Purely tactical, as always.
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) June 30, 2019
You're that rare species of pigeon who after they've been conned brag about it. https://t.co/gSBn5IkIoF
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 30, 2019
President Trump makes history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea. https://t.co/aaM3T5D4Km pic.twitter.com/IS6IgYkNKl
— The Hill (@thehill) June 30, 2019
The reason no previous president did it wasn't that it was hard to do, but that it was hard to get something out of the North Koreans that would justify giving them such a P.R. bonanza. https://t.co/cRsPT0wmS2
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) June 30, 2019
Today's humiliation in North Korea is yet another reminder why so many national security conservatives were a core part of Never Trump from the start. We saw all this coming, but maybe not even this level of awfulness. https://t.co/8msV0L5i6w
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 30, 2019
— Digitalwolf (@Digitalwolff) June 30, 2019
Who is this Tucker Carlson, and how can he possibly say,
You’ve got to be honest about what it means to lead a country, it means killing people.
Is this the twilight zone?
Oh Swell! More phony baloney PR from the reality TV president. All they did was agree to meet again. Just wonderful!
And Mrs. Wambier and family have every right to be unhappy watching Trump mug for the camera and gushing over his new BFF — the serial mass murderer.
All that Trump accomplished was to provide propaganda video for NK and great campaign ads for the Democrats. Hopefully the ads will wake some people up to the fact that we have a nutjob traitor running this country.
The highest-ranking North Korean defector in decades told me Kim Jong UN likes President Trump because he’s not “moral,” and doesn't judge."All previous US presidents so far have been very moral and they paid great attention on the America’s moral image," he said of Trump.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) June 30, 2019
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