2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit Singapore Summit
Logo used by the United States Logo used by Singapore
Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump shaking hands at the start of the summit
Host country	Singapore
Date	12 June 2018 09:00 SGT (01:00 UTC)
Venue(s)	Capella Resort, Sentosa
Participants	Donald Trump Kim Jong Un
Precedes	2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit

The 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit, also called the Singapore Summit, was a big meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States. North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Singapore on June 12, 2018. This was the first time leaders from these two countries had ever met.

At the meeting, they signed a joint statement. They agreed to keep North Korea safe, create peaceful relations, and work towards removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. They also agreed to find and return the remains of soldiers missing from the Korean War. Both leaders also met separately with Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong.

After the summit, President Trump announced that the U.S. military would stop its "provocative" joint military exercises with South Korea. He also said he hoped to bring U.S. soldiers home eventually. However, the U.S. Senate later passed a bill that stopped funding for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea below 22,000.

Before this meeting, there had been a lot of tension. North Korea had tested what it said was a hydrogen bomb and a long-range missile. But things started to calm down when Kim Jong Un said he wanted to send athletes to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. During the Olympics, Kim suggested talks with South Korea. South Korea then invited Donald Trump to meet Kim Jong Un. After some back-and-forth, including threats to cancel the meeting, both sides finally agreed to meet.

A second meeting between Trump and Kim happened in February 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Why the Summit Happened

A Look at History and Tensions

USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group and South Korean Navy ships during a joint exercise on May 3, 2017

The Korean Peninsula has been divided since 1945. The Korean War (1950–1953) ended with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty. So, technically, the two Koreas are still at war. U.S. troops have stayed in South Korea to help protect it.

North Korea started its nuclear program in the 1980s. In 1992, it first agreed to remove its nuclear weapons. However, more nuclear tests happened over the years. Under Kim Jong Un, who became leader in 2011, North Korea's nuclear program grew a lot.

Trump's Approach to North Korea

When Donald Trump became U.S. President in 2016, he wanted a different approach to North Korea. He was open to talking with Kim Jong Un. In 2017, Moon Jae-in became President of South Korea. He wanted to improve relations with North Korea.

Rising Tensions and Missile Tests

Artist's idea of the Hwasong-15 missile on its mobile launch vehicle

In 2017, tensions were very high. North Korea successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-14. This missile could reach far distances. Trump warned North Korea that any attack would be met with "fire, fury." North Korea then threatened to test missiles near Guam, a U.S. territory.

On September 3, North Korea tested what some believed was its first hydrogen bomb. This led to more international punishments. The U.S. also put North Korea back on its list of countries that support terrorism. On November 28, North Korea launched the Hwasong-15, which could reach anywhere in the U.S. The United Nations put even more punishments on North Korea.

A Shift Towards Peace

Moon Jae-in (standing, lower left) with North Korean representatives (upper right) and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (lower right) at the PyeongChang Olympics

In his 2018 New Year's speech, Kim Jong Un said North Korea had completed its nuclear abilities. But he also suggested sending a team to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The special phone line between Seoul and Pyongyang was reopened. North Korea sent a high-level group to the Olympics, including Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo-jong. They invited President Moon to visit North Korea.

How the Summit Was Announced

Chung Eui-yong (left), South Korea's national security chief, and Kim Jong-un meeting in Pyongyang on March 5, 2018.

On March 5, 2018, South Korea's special team agreed to hold a meeting with North Korea on April 27. After this, South Korean officials traveled to the U.S. to tell President Trump about the upcoming meeting. They also gave Trump an invitation from Kim Jong Un to meet. About an hour later, Trump agreed to the summit. The White House said that punishments on North Korea would stay until an agreement was reached.

South Korean officials also visited China, Russia, and Japan to discuss the planned summits and the goal of removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula.

Getting Ready for the Summit

Early Discussions

South Korea announced that informal groups from North Korea, South Korea, and the U.S. would meet in Finland in April. These talks were to discuss removing nuclear weapons.

Kim Jong Un Meets China's Leader

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, visited Beijing from March 25–28, 2018. He met with China's leader, Xi Jinping. This was Kim's first known trip outside North Korea since he became leader. China said North Korea was "committed to denuclearization" and willing to meet with the U.S. Kim and Xi met again in May 2018.

North Korea's Conditions

On April 11, North Korea listed five conditions for giving up its nuclear missiles:

• The U.S. and South Korea should not place nuclear weapons near the Korean Peninsula.
• They should stop developing or using nuclear weapons during joint military training.
• The U.S. should promise not to attack North Korea with any weapons.
• The 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement should become a full peace treaty.
• North Korea and the U.S. should establish official diplomatic ties.

North Korea also said it would accept U.S. troops staying in South Korea if its own security was guaranteed.

Meeting Between North and South Korea

Kim and President of South Korea Moon Jae-in shake hands at the April 2018 inter-Korean summit.

On April 27, 2018, the leaders of North and South Korea met. They agreed to formally end the Korean War by the end of the year. They also confirmed their goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Americans Released from North Korea

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome home three American returnees from North Korea.

On May 10, 2018, three Americans held by North Korea were released. This happened after talks between the U.S. and North Korea. Their release helped ease tensions and allowed the summit plans to move forward. The three Americans were greeted by President Trump and the First Lady when they landed in the U.S.

Summit Troubles: Cancellation and Reinstatement

Letter sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by US President Donald Trump informing Kim of the cancellation of the summit

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on May 21, 2018, that if Kim Jong Un didn't make a deal, it would end like the "Libyan model." This referred to the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after military action. North Korea called Pence's comments "ignorant and stupid" and threatened a "nuclear-to-nuclear showdown."

Because of this, Trump canceled the summit on May 24, 2018. He sent a letter to Kim, saying North Korea's statements showed "tremendous anger and open hostility."

South Korean President Moon was "very perplexed" by the cancellation. However, North Korea quickly said it was still willing to talk. On May 25, Trump announced that the summit could happen after all. He said he received a "very nice statement" from North Korea.

Kim Yong-chol met with Pompeo on May 30, and with Trump on June 1.

On May 30, a high-ranking North Korean official, Kim Yong-chol, came to New York City to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. They had "good progress" in their talks. On June 1, Trump announced the summit would happen as planned on June 12. Kim Yong-chol delivered a letter from Kim Jong Un to Trump.

Closing a Nuclear Test Site

North Korea shut down its Punggye-ri nuclear test site on May 23 to show its commitment to denuclearization.

On May 12, North Korea announced it would close its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site. They invited journalists to watch the destruction of its tunnels. On May 24, reporters saw explosions that supposedly closed the tunnels. However, independent inspectors were not there.

Second Meeting Between North and South Korea

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in met again in May 2018. They talked about how to get the U.S.-North Korea summit back on track. They also discussed Kim's willingness to talk about nuclear weapons with Trump. Both leaders agreed to meet "anytime and anyplace" without formal rules.

Where the Meeting Would Be Held

An aerial view of the Capella Singapore

On May 9, it was reported that Singapore would host the meeting. Singapore was chosen because it has diplomatic ties with both the U.S. and North Korea. Trump confirmed the location on May 10. The meeting was set for June 12.

Singapore's government declared special security zones around the meeting areas. They also paid for some of North Korea's costs, saying it was "hospitality." The total cost for Singapore was about S$16.3 million (around US$12 million).

Before the Summit Day

Leaders Arrive

Kim arrived in Singapore in an Air China Boeing 747-400 registered B-2447

President Trump arrived in Singapore on June 10, 2018, after leaving the G7 summit early. He landed at Paya Lebar Airbase and stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel.

Chairman Kim Jong Un arrived earlier on June 10 at Singapore Changi Airport. He flew on a Boeing 747 used by Chinese leaders. He stayed at the St. Regis Hotel.

Meetings with Singapore's Prime Minister

Both Trump and Kim met separately with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Kim met Lee on Sunday evening. Trump met Lee on Monday afternoon.

Kim's Tour of Singapore

Kim visited some of Singapore's famous places on Monday evening. He went to the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, the Jubilee Bridge, and the Marina Bay Sands resort. He was with Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister and Education Minister.

The Summit Meeting

One-on-One Talk

Kim and Trump before their one-on-one meeting

President Trump arrived first at the Capella Hotel, followed by Kim Jong Un. They started the summit at 9:05 am with a 12-second handshake. Then, they had a private one-on-one meeting with only their interpreters. Trump said the meeting was "very very good."

Larger Meeting and Lunch

The expanded bilateral meeting between both the United States and North Korean delegations

After their private talk, both countries' teams joined for a larger meeting and a working lunch. They ate a mix of Korean, Southeast Asian, and Western foods. After lunch, Trump and Kim took a short walk and looked at the U.S. presidential car.

Signing the Joint Statement

Trump and Kim then signed a joint statement. Trump called it a "very important" and "comprehensive" agreement.

The document said:

President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:

• The United States and North Korea will create new relations for peace and success.
  
• The United States and North Korea will work together for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
  
• North Korea promises to work towards completely removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula.
  
• The United States and North Korea will find and return the remains of soldiers missing from the Korean War.

The statement also mentioned that Trump promised to keep North Korea safe. It also called for more talks between top officials.

Trump's News Conference

Trump at the news conference after the summit

Trump held a news conference after the summit. He said more talks would happen with North Korean officials. He also said he would think about visiting Pyongyang. Trump announced that the U.S. would stop its joint military exercises with South Korea, calling them "provocative." He hoped that removing U.S. troops from South Korea might be part of future agreements.

End of the Summit

Trump left Singapore around 6:30 pm, and Kim Jong Un left around 10:30 pm.

When Trump returned to the U.S., he said North Korea was no longer a nuclear threat. However, in October 2018, a second summit was announced.

People at the Meeting

Main Participants

United States (USA)
Name	Role
Donald Trump	President
Mike Pompeo	Secretary of State
John F. Kelly	White House Chief of Staff
John R. Bolton	National Security Advisor

North Korea (DPRK)
Name	Role
Kim Jong Un	Chairman of the State Affairs Commission
Ri Yong-ho	Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kim Yong-chol	Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea
Ri Su-yong	Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

Other Important People

United States (USA)
Name	Role
Sarah Huckabee Sanders	White House Press Secretary
Stephen Miller	Senior Advisor to the President
Sung Kim	Ambassador to the Philippines

North Korea (DPRK)
Name	Role
No Kwang-chol	Minister of People's Armed Forces
Choe Son-hui	Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kim Yo-jong	Kim Jong Un's sister Vice Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department

What Happened After the Summit

Progress of the Agreement

After the Trump-Kim summit, North Korea searched for and returned the remains of U.S. POWs and MIAs from the Korean War.

After the summit, North Korea took some steps agreed upon. They stopped missile and nuclear tests. They also began to dismantle a test site and a missile assembly facility. North Korea also returned the remains of 55 U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War. They also removed anti-American posters.

The U.S. also took one action: canceling joint military exercises with South Korea. However, North Korea said the U.S. was not doing enough to keep its promises. North Korea's foreign minister said that a "balanced, simultaneous, step-by-step" approach was needed.

The joint statement had four main points:

• New relations between the U.S. and North Korea.
• Building lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
• North Korea working towards complete denuclearization.
• Recovering U.S. soldier remains.

There are still U.S. nuclear-capable jets in South Korea. Also, North and South Korea are still technically at war. North Korea wants the U.S. to formally declare an end to the Korean War to guarantee its safety.

Anti-American Propaganda Removed

After the summit, North Korea reduced its anti-American propaganda. Many posters were removed in the capital city. The government also canceled its yearly "anti-US imperialism" rally.

Pompeo's Visits to North Korea

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea two more times to continue talks. After one meeting, Pompeo said progress had been made. However, North Korean state media criticized the meeting, calling U.S. demands "gangster-like."

Later, President Trump canceled another planned trip by Pompeo to North Korea. Trump said they were not making enough progress on denuclearization.

Return of U.S. Soldier Remains

The remains of US soldiers in DPRK start the journey to the U.S. after 65 years.

On July 27, North Korea handed over 55 boxes of human remains. This was part of their promise from the Singapore declaration. More than 36,000 American troops died in the Korean War, and about 7,700 are still missing. Experts are working to identify the remains using dental records and DNA.

Dismantling Missile Sites

North Korea dismantled parts of the Sohae ICBM missile & Satellite Launching Station.

On July 24, it was reported that North Korea had started to dismantle a rocket launching and testing site. This was something Kim had promised Trump. Satellite images showed that important structures at the Sohae Station were destroyed. This was seen as an important first step towards denuclearization.

However, in December 2019, North Korea announced it had conducted a "very important test" at the Sohae site. Some thought this test involved a new missile engine.

Questions About Missile Development

Some reports suggested that North Korea might have increased its production of nuclear fuel at secret sites after the summit. Also, experts monitoring UN punishments said North Korea had not stopped its nuclear and missile programs.

In November 2018, The New York Times reported that satellite images suggested North Korea was still developing 16 other missile sites. Trump called this report "inaccurate" and "fake news," saying the U.S. already knew about these sites.

Second U.S.–North Korean Summit

Trump and Kim at the Hanoi Summit

On October 7, 2018, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim agreed to a second summit. This meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 and 28, 2019. However, it ended without a new deal. Trump said he was not happy with the incomplete denuclearization offered by Kim. Kim had asked for all American punishments on North Korea to be lifted in return.

See also

• 2018–19 Korean peace process
• Korean reunification
• North Korea–United States relations
• 2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit (the second Trump–Kim summit)
• Peace Treaty on Korean Peninsula
• North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
• 2017–18 North Korea crisis
• April 2018 inter-Korean summit
• May 2018 inter-Korean summit
• September 2018 inter-Korean summit

Images for kids

• 

  A commemorative coin released on May 21 by the White House Communications Agency for the summit