by Daveda Gruber:
President Trump is one for surprises when we least expect them. On Sunday, Trump shook Kim Jung Un’s hand while taking 20 steps into North Korea.
At 3:45 p.m. both men had big grins on their faces as they met in the Demilitarized Zone and crossed the low stone curb separating the North and the South.
On top of the face to face handshake between the two me, they had about a 50-minute meeting behind closed doors. This was a getting back to discussions for the two leaders after their talks broke down during a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in February. Prior to that, in June, they met in Singapore.
Trump revealed to reporters afterwards that the two leaders had agreed to revive talks on the Hermit Kingdom’s nuclear program.
Trump made it clear that “speed is not the object” in trying to reach a deal but that both sides want “to get it right.”
North Korea is hesitant to give up its nuclear ambitions but the rogue nation needs relief from crushing international sanctions.
The talking between Trump and Kim didn’t lead to any sanctions being lifted but the possibility now exists to scale them back as part of renewed negotiations.
Trump told reporters, “At some point during the negotiation, things can happen.” adding that he suggested Kim could visit Washington, D.C., during their discussions.
Trump says he told Kim that, “at the right time, you’re going to come over” and that that could be “any time he wants to do it.”
The president added that he “would certainly extend the invite” and that, “at some point” it will happen.
Trump is now the first sitting U.S. president to step foot inside North Korea. He described it as “a great day for the world.”
On the South Korean side of the zone, Trump and Kim were joined by the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner in the “Freedom House.”
Trump tweeted this out:
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Leaving South Korea after a wonderful meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un. Stood on the soil of North Korea, an important statement for all, and a great honor!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=”https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1145276110097154048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump re-tweeted:
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”ko”>오울렛 초소에서 브리핑을 받고 북측을 바라보며 대화하는 한.미 정상의 모습. 오울렛 초소는 한국전쟁 참전용사인 조셉 오울렛의 희생정신을 기리며 이름붙여진 곳으로 군사분계선에서 불과 25m밖에 떨어지지 않은 최전방 초소입니다. <a href=”https://t.co/xaGkJVBntf”>pic.twitter.com/xaGkJVBntf</a></p>
— 대한민국 청와대 (@TheBlueHouseKR) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TheBlueHouseKR/status/1145229124954251264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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