Singapore –The Historic Trump- Kim summit went well with both the leaders finally signing an agreement on Tuesday pledging to support a peaceful resolution to end the tensions between the decades-old enemies and a complete de-nuclearization from the Korean peninsula.
The US is now committed to providing security guarantees to North Korea while North Korea has committed to de-nuclearize the Korean peninsula under the signed agreement, Al Jazeera reported.
The US and allies had urged North Korea for a “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation” of the North Korean peninsula but it is not yet clear if that has really been signed.
Addressing the press conference, Trump defending the agreement between the two countries said the leaders are committed to its provisions.
He said: “Today is the beginning of an arduous process.” “Our eyes are wide open, but peace is always worth the effort, especially in this case.”
While Kim reportedly left for his country after the summit Trump stayed to address the agreement at a later press conference.
Trump said there no plans of reducing US troops stationed in South Korea and that the economic sanctions against North Korea will remain in effect until North Korea reverses its nuclear programme.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kim said: “We had a historic meeting and decided to leave the past behind. The world will see a major change.”
While Trump replied: “A lot of work and a lot of preparation went into this. The meeting went better than expected and no one could’ve expected this,” adding, “We’ll meet again. We will meet many times.”
While the analysis over the agreement remains divided with many saying the summit was to reverse hostile conditions between the two countries while some saying it does nothing to avoid repeating past mistakes in similar attempts at a denuclearization deal.
“An important first step has been taken with the historic agreement even if it is scanty on details,” said Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at Singapore Management University.
“Much work remains to be done and there will be obstacles ahead for sure given what is at stake for all stakeholders.”
Geoffrey See, a founder of the Choson Exchange, a Singapore-based non-profit that organizes business workshops in North Korea, said: “The summit is still short on details on how both sides will achieve their objectives. But the summit has reversed a process [by] putting trust, relationship and aspiration at the start rather than at the end.”
The two leaders met on Singapore’s Sentosa Island at the Capella Hotel, starting with a cordial handshake, followed by initial comments by the reporters both the leaders went into a private meeting only accompanied by their translators.
While the two were heading in for the private meeting Kim told Trump: “The way to come to here was not easy. The old prejudices and practices worked as obstacles on our way forward, but we overcame all of them and we are here today.”