Singapore: In what was the first ever official engagement in Singapore, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at The Istana (Prime Minister’s House) here on Sunday, ahead of the historic summit between the former and US President Donald Trump.
Kim arrived in an Air China 747 plane that touched down Singapore’s Changi International Airport earlier today.
He was received by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan at the airport.
In a tweet, Balakrishnan posted an image greeting the North Korean leader.
“Welcomed Chairman Kim Jong Un, who has just arrived in Singapore,” Balakrishnan wrote on the micro-blogging site.
Welcomed Chairman Kim Jong Un, who has just arrived in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/ZLK4ouIejx
— Vivian Balakrishnan (@VivianBala) June 10, 2018
Kim was accompanied by a delegation of North Korean officials, which included Vice-Chairman of the North Korean ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, Kim Yong Chol, who visited the United States last week to formally hand over a letter written by Kim.
The delegation also included the North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong, who was also a part of the delegation in the inter-Korean summit at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), the border separating North and South Korea in April.
Kim and his delegation are currently staying at the St. Regis Hotel amid heavy security, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday left for two-day Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada’s La Malbaie early to head to Singapore for the much-awaited summit.
Trump is scheduled to arrive at Singapore’s Paya Lebar Airbase at 12:30 GMT (6 pm IST) on Sunday and will stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, according to the White House.
Officials onboard the Air Force One include – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Al Jazeera reported.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet on Tuesday at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island, where the process regarding denuclearisation of North Korea may kick-start in exchange for economic aid.
The US President has expressed keenness about his summit with Kim and called it a “one-time opportunity”. (ANI)