2018 North Korea–United States summit facts for kids

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shaking hands at their meeting.

The North Korea–United States summit was a very important meeting. It brought together the leaders of North Korea and the United States. This historic event happened on June 12, 2018, in Singapore.

The White House announced the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un on March 8, 2018. This was a big deal because it was the first time a sitting U.S. president had ever met with a North Korean leader since the Korean War.

A Historic First Meeting

This meeting was a major step in the relationship between North Korea and the United States. Before this, leaders from these two countries had not met face-to-face for many years. It showed a new effort to talk and solve problems.

The meeting aimed to discuss important topics. One main goal was to talk about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The U.S. wanted North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

Getting Ready for the Summit

Many steps led up to this important meeting. Leaders from both sides worked to prepare. They wanted to make sure the talks would be successful.

On May 10, President Trump announced the date and place for the summit. It was set for June 12, 2018, in Singapore. This announcement came after North Korea released three American citizens. They had been held captive there.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that rules and strong pressure on North Korea would continue. This was to encourage them to cooperate. Kim Jong-un also spoke about the preparations for the meeting. He talked about it with a group of important leaders in North Korea on April 9.

Images for kids

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

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  An artist's idea of the Hwasong-15 missile on its mobile launcher.

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  South Korean President 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.

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  Chung Eui-yong (left), South Korea's national security chief, and Kim Jong-un meeting in Pyongyang on March 5, 2018. Kim is holding a letter from President Moon Jae-in.

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  South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump, November 2017.

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

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  President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcoming three Americans released from North Korea.

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

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  A letter sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by U.S. President Donald Trump about the summit's cancellation.

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

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  Moon Jae-in met with Trump on May 22.

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  North Korea closed its Punggye-ri nuclear test site on May 23 to show it was serious about denuclearization.

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  The logo used at the International Media Centre for the summit.

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  U.S. Secretary of State (then CIA Director) Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong-un meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea on March 31, 2018.

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  North Korea's Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol giving a personal letter from Kim to Trump in the White House Oval Office on June 1, 2018.

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  Trump with Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol of the North Korean group, outside the Oval Office.

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  An aerial view of the Capella Singapore, where the summit took place.

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  Kim arrived in Singapore in an Air China Boeing 747-400. This photo was taken in Beijing in March 2018.

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  Kim and Trump before their one-on-one meeting began.

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  The larger meeting between both the United States and North Korean groups.

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  Trump at the news conference after the summit.

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

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  The remains of U.S. soldiers from North Korea starting their journey to the U.S. after 65 years.

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  The U.S. war remains were flown from Wonsan, North Korea by a U.S. military plane C-17 Globemaster to the Osan Air Base near Seoul, South Korea.

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  North Korea took apart important parts of its Sohae missile and satellite launching station.

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  The North Korean Government began to take apart a missile launching and engine testing site. This was to show its commitment to stopping nuclear weapons. CBS News said this was one of North Korea's main missile testing places.

See also

In Spanish: Cumbre de Singapur para niños