Kim: North Korea, US have overcome obstacles to hold summit

US President Donald Trump (R) gives a thumbs up as he sits down with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (L) for their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. Trump and Kim have become the first sitting US and North Korean leaders to meet, shake hands, and negotiate to end a decades-old nuclear stand-off. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB

Singapore, Singapore – North Korea and the United States have overcome the obstacles of a difficult history to hold their summit in Singapore, the North’s leader Kim Jong Un said as the unprecedented meeting opened on Tuesday.

“The way to come to here was not easy,” Kim said, sitting at a table with Trump. “The old prejudices and practices worked as obstacles on our way forward but we overcame all of them and we are here today.”

‘Terrific relationship’

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, predicted he would have a “terrific relationship” with Kim, as the pair met for the historic Singapore summit.

“We will have a terrific relationship, I have no doubt,” Trump said amid smiles and backslapping that belied the decades of tension and blood spilled between the two Cold War foes.             /kga