Special briefing: Trump, Kim on denuclearization – they offer the will, but not the way

Highlights

U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un pledged to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, while Washington committed to provide security guarantees for its old enemy. But a joint statement signed at the end of the historic summit gave few details on how this would be achieved, and made no mention of the international sanctions or a peace treaty.

In pictures: Photographers capture key moments of the historic summit

In the first 13 seconds of meeting each other, Trump and Kim Jong Un both sought to project a sense of command but displayed some anxiety at the start of the high-stakes summit in Singapore. Reuters spoke with a body language expert to analyse Kim’s and Trump's movements during their initial meet. Click here to follow more from Singapore with our live blog.

 

"Committed to cooperate for the development of new U.S.-DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the world." The full text of the statement that Trump and Kim signed today: https://reut.rs/2y4Wfno

3:23 AM - June 12, 2018

reaction

As the two leaders shook hands, many South Koreans stopped in their tracks to watch the event unfurl on live television. Despite the excitement many expressed about watching Trump and Kim meet, some voiced doubts and indifference regarding the summit. Read more coverage with our dedicated North Korea page.

 

This agreement does not seem likely to change many minds. Pessimists will see it as toothless and nothing new; optimists will see it as just the beginning, the best that could be expected, and talking better than war.

2:45 AM - June 12, 2018

Investors had mixed reactions to the summit. World stocks crept higher while the dollar turned negative after hitting a three-week high at the end of the summit. In Asian equity markets, trading was volatile with Japan's Nikkei paring early gains to close 0.3 percent higher after earlier rising as much as 0.9 percent.

 

While there's a lot of excitement about what the summit could bring, some Chinese businesses say they're still treating it with caution https://reut.rs/2sQFgA9

3:03 AM - June 12, 2018

North Korea visualized

From a deep dive on Kim Jong Un’s nuclear program to analysis of communication between the North and South Korea, read a selection of data-driven stories from the Reuters Graphics team.

Since 1990, 205 negotiations and meetings have been held between North Korea and the U.S., or between North Korea and international organisations in which the U.S. was a founding member. Take a look at the ups and downs in the relationship between the two nations.

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