<a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-mikepompeo-says-north-korea-sanctions-to-remain-until-complete-denuclearisation-144374">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says North Korea sanctions to remain until complete denuclearisation</a>

Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the US Secretary of State&nbsp;Mike&nbsp;Pompeo said on Thursday, apparently contradicting the North's view that the process agreed at this week's summit would be phased and reciprocal.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-governments--informal-ban-on-indian-workers-is-a-cause-for-concern-for-india---144365">Maldives government imposes 'informal ban' on work permits to Indians</a>

In a development that can further deteriorate the already fractured relationship between India and &nbsp;Maldives, Male has imposed an informal ban on work permits to Indians.&nbsp;The ban was imposed three months ago.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/un-report-on-jk-is-fallacious-tendentious-and-motivated-india-144344">UN report on J&K is fallacious, tendentious and motivated: India</a>

India today rejected the&nbsp;United Nations report which called&nbsp;for an inquiry into abuses in "Indian-administered Kashmir" as well as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir".

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/jk-terrorists-abduct-indian-army-soldier-from-pulwama-144334">J&K: Terrorists abduct Indian Army soldier from Pulwama</a>

&nbsp;

Terrorists have abducted an Indian Army soldier from&nbsp;Kalampora area in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).The soldier named&nbsp;Aurangzeb belongs to&nbsp;&nbsp;4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted&nbsp;to&nbsp;44 Rashtriya Rifles.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-sc-withdraws-directive-allowing-musharraf-to-file-nomination-papers-after-he-fails-to-appear--144362">Pakistan SC withdraws directive allowing Musharraf to file nomination papers after he fails to appear</a>

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday withdrew a conditional permission for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to contest elections after he failed to appear in court.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says North Korea sanctions to remain until complete denuclearisation Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday, apparently contradicting the North's view that the process agreed at this week's summit would be phased and reciprocal. Maldives government imposes 'informal ban' on work permits to Indians In a development that can further deteriorate the already fractured relationship between India and Maldives, Male has imposed an informal ban on work permits to Indians. The ban was imposed three months ago. UN report on J&K is fallacious, tendentious and motivated: India India today rejected the United Nations report which called for an inquiry into abuses in "Indian-administered Kashmir" as well as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir". J&K: Terrorists abduct Indian Army soldier from Pulwama Terrorists have abducted an Indian Army soldier from Kalampora area in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).The soldier named Aurangzeb belongs to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted to 44 Rashtriya Rifles. Pakistan SC withdraws directive allowing Musharraf to file nomination papers after he fails to appear Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday withdrew a conditional permission for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to contest elections after he failed to appear in court.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The UN Security Council should consider steps toward lifting sanctions on North Korea following its agreement with the United States to scrap its nuclear program, Russia's UN ambassador said Wednesday.

The council last year adopted three rounds of tough economic sanctions on North Korea, banning most of its exports of raw commodities and severely restricting oil supplies.&nbsp

Asked about lifting sanctions, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters: "I think that it is only natural that we should be thinking about steps in that direction."

"There is progress on the track that should be reciprocal. There should be a two-way street," he said. "Of course the other side should see encouragement to go forward."

At the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea on Tuesday in Singapore, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un pledged in a joint statement to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

The United States along with Japan and European countries maintain that the raft of tough sanctions must remain in place until North Korea has fully dismantled its weapons programs.

Russia and China argue that there should be a gradual approach, offering some sanctions relief in exchange for concrete action from Pyongyang along the path toward denuclearization.&nbsp

The council is expected to meet to discuss the results of the Singapore summit, but Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency this month, said nothing had been scheduled yet.

"It would be interesting to hear from those who were directly involved their assessment of the results," said the Russian ambassador.

Many diplomats credit the UN move to ramp up sanctions as a decisive factor in pressuring Kim to agree to negotiate an end to North Korea's military program.&nbsp

Kim came to understand that "having a nuclear bomb is not compatible with having an economy," said a Security Council diplomat.&nbsp

Dutch Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, who heads the council's sanctions committee on North Korea said the punitive measures were still being applied in full force.

"We will continue to keep up the pressure with the full implementation of the sanctions," he said.

The council last year adopted three rounds of tough economic sanctions on North Korea, banning most of its exports of raw commodities and severely restricting oil supplies

The UN Security Council should consider steps toward lifting sanctions on North Korea following its agreement with the United States to scrap its nuclear program, Russia's UN ambassador said Wednesday. The council last year adopted three rounds of tough economic sanctions on North Korea, banning most of its exports of raw commodities and severely restricting oil supplies. Asked about lifting sanctions, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters: "I think that it is only natural that we should be thinking about steps in that direction." "There is progress on the track that should be reciprocal. There should be a two-way street," he said. "Of course the other side should see encouragement to go forward." At the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea on Tuesday in Singapore, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un pledged in a joint statement to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The United States along with Japan and European countries maintain that the raft of tough sanctions must remain in place until North Korea has fully dismantled its weapons programs. Russia and China argue that there should be a gradual approach, offering some sanctions relief in exchange for concrete action from Pyongyang along the path toward denuclearization. The council is expected to meet to discuss the results of the Singapore summit, but Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency this month, said nothing had been scheduled yet. "It would be interesting to hear from those who were directly involved their assessment of the results," said the Russian ambassador. Many diplomats credit the UN move to ramp up sanctions as a decisive factor in pressuring Kim to agree to negotiate an end to North Korea's military program. Kim came to understand that "having a nuclear bomb is not compatible with having an economy," said a Security Council diplomat. Dutch Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, who heads the council's sanctions committee on North Korea said the punitive measures were still being applied in full force. "We will continue to keep up the pressure with the full implementation of the sanctions," he said.

Russia says UN should consider sanctions relief for North Korea

Two days after the historic <a href="http://wionews.com/world/japan-eying-abe-kim-summit-with-possible-pyongyang-visit-report-144274">Trump-Kim summit in Singapore</a>, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono met in Seoul today to work together to ensure North Korea keeps its promise of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

During the meeting, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "Kim Jong Un's public commitment to completely denuclearise is an important step towards to bring lasting peace and stability to Northeast Asia and indeed to the entire world," adding, "as the president said that this will be a process, and not an easy one, staying closely aligned with our allies."

Pompeo reiterated that Korea and Japan will be critical to the success of North Korea completely dismantling its nuclear infrastructure.

"The world should rest assured that the United States, South Korea and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," the US secretary of state said.

The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue and wanted to "normalise relations with North Korea" and could also offer "economic assistance" to North Korea.&nbsp;

Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "I hope a bilateral summit between Japan and North Korea will be held as a step that can lead to resolving issues, including the abduction. I think various arrangements will be made for realising the summit."

According to a new report, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's office is arranging a meeting with &nbsp;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un possibly in August to discuss all outstanding issues with Abe possibly visiting Pyongyang to mee the North Korean leader.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4OQVjhm9Zo" width="560"></iframe>

The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue with North Korea

Two days after the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono met in Seoul today to work together to ensure North Korea keeps its promise of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. During the meeting, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "Kim Jong Un's public commitment to completely denuclearise is an important step towards to bring lasting peace and stability to Northeast Asia and indeed to the entire world," adding, "as the president said that this will be a process, and not an easy one, staying closely aligned with our allies." Pompeo reiterated that Korea and Japan will be critical to the success of North Korea completely dismantling its nuclear infrastructure. "The world should rest assured that the United States, South Korea and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," the US secretary of state said. The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue and wanted to "normalise relations with North Korea" and could also offer "economic assistance" to North Korea. Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said, "I hope a bilateral summit between Japan and North Korea will be held as a step that can lead to resolving issues, including the abduction. I think various arrangements will be made for realising the summit." According to a new report, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's office is arranging a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un possibly in August to discuss all outstanding issues with Abe possibly visiting Pyongyang to mee the North Korean leader.

After Kim-Trump summit, Pompeo in Seoul to meet foreign ministers from Japan and South Korea

Kim Jong Un invited Donald Trump to visit North Korea during their historic summit and the US President accepted, Pyongyang state media reported today, calling it the start of a "radical switchover" in the nuclear-armed Cold War foes' fraught relations.

The unprecedented encounter in Singapore yesterday saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations' flags.

Kim agreed to the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", a stock phrase favoured by Pyongyang that stopped short of long-standing US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way.

In its first report on the landmark summit, the official KCNA news agency ran a glowing dispatch on the talks, describing them as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations".

The report said the two men each asked the other to visit their country.

"The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA said.

Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting which was a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy.

In a blockbusting press conference after the summit, Trump said the US would halt military exercises with Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion.

The US stations around 30,000 troops in security ally South Korea to protect it from its neighbour, which invaded in 1950 in an attempt to reunify the peninsula by force.

"We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters, adding that "at some point" he wanted to withdraw US troops from the South.

Both Seoul and US military commanders in the South indicated they had no idea the announcement was coming, and analysts expressed immediate concern.

Ending the drills "is in excess of all expert consensus, South Korean requests, and even a close reading of North Korean demands", said Adam Mount of the Federation of American Scientists.

The KCNA report said Trump committed to ending the drills during his meeting with Kim.

It added that denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula would be dependent on the two sides "refraining from antagonising... Each other out of mutual understanding".

The Singapore summit was a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men -- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, or Ronald Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik.

World powers from China to Japan, the European Union and Russia welcomed its outcome -- while cautioning it was only the first step towards resolving the nuclear stand-off with Pyongyang.

Many agreements have been made in the past with North Korea that have later fallen apart, and ahead of the meeting, critics expressed concerns that it risked being more about headlines than substantive progress.

It also legitimised Kim, critics charged, feting a regime which stands accused of widespread human rights abuses. In the event, the two leaders showered each other with compliments in the sumptuous setting of a luxury Singapore hotel, a marked contrast from their previous rounds of mutual insults, such as "mentally deranged" and "little rocket man". Trump said he had formed a "special bond" with Kim, whom he described as "very talented".

KCNA said the two leaders ate and walked together, "deepening friendly feelings" towards each other.&nbsp

The unprecedented encounter in Singapore yesterday saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations' flags

Kim Jong Un invited Donald Trump to visit North Korea during their historic summit and the US President accepted, Pyongyang state media reported today, calling it the start of a "radical switchover" in the nuclear-armed Cold War foes' fraught relations. The unprecedented encounter in Singapore yesterday saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations' flags. Kim agreed to the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", a stock phrase favoured by Pyongyang that stopped short of long-standing US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a "verifiable" and "irreversible" way. In its first report on the landmark summit, the official KCNA news agency ran a glowing dispatch on the talks, describing them as an "epoch-making meeting" that would help foster "a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations". The report said the two men each asked the other to visit their country. "The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA said. Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting which was a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy. In a blockbusting press conference after the summit, Trump said the US would halt military exercises with Seoul -- something long sought by Pyongyang, which claims the drills are a rehearsal for invasion. The US stations around 30,000 troops in security ally South Korea to protect it from its neighbour, which invaded in 1950 in an attempt to reunify the peninsula by force. "We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters, adding that "at some point" he wanted to withdraw US troops from the South. Both Seoul and US military commanders in the South indicated they had no idea the announcement was coming, and analysts expressed immediate concern. Ending the drills "is in excess of all expert consensus, South Korean requests, and even a close reading of North Korean demands", said Adam Mount of the Federation of American Scientists. The KCNA report said Trump committed to ending the drills during his meeting with Kim. It added that denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula would be dependent on the two sides "refraining from antagonising... Each other out of mutual understanding". The Singapore summit was a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men -- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, or Ronald Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik. World powers from China to Japan, the European Union and Russia welcomed its outcome -- while cautioning it was only the first step towards resolving the nuclear stand-off with Pyongyang. Many agreements have been made in the past with North Korea that have later fallen apart, and ahead of the meeting, critics expressed concerns that it risked being more about headlines than substantive progress. It also legitimised Kim, critics charged, feting a regime which stands accused of widespread human rights abuses. In the event, the two leaders showered each other with compliments in the sumptuous setting of a luxury Singapore hotel, a marked contrast from their previous rounds of mutual insults, such as "mentally deranged" and "little rocket man". Trump said he had formed a "special bond" with Kim, whom he described as "very talented". KCNA said the two leaders ate and walked together, "deepening friendly feelings" towards each other.

Kim invites Trump to visit Pyongyang as North hails 'radical switchover'

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's brother and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif has asked India to resume peace talks with Islamabad, saying the Singapore summit between the US and North Korea should set a good precedent for both the bickering neighbours to follow.

Marking an epoch in the history of the decades-long tense relationship between the US and North Korea, leaders of the two countries yesterday met in Singapore for a summit where the North's Kim Jong-un pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearisation" in return for security guarantees from Washington.&nbsp;

"Ever since the start of Korean War, the two nations have been at odds with one another - both threatening to use military force with their nuclear arsenals facing each other.

"If the United States and North Korea can return from the brink of a nuclear flashpoint, there is no reason why Pakistan and India cannot do the same ... Beginning with a dialogue on Kashmir whose heroic people have resisted and rejected Indian occupation," Shahbaz Sharif said in a series of tweets.

He further said: "It is time for comprehensive peace talks in our region. International community must focus on the peace process in Afghanistan. Dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir should also resume so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions."

This is a rare statement from Shahbaz Sharif on India, contrary to his elder brother (Nawaz Sharif) whose one of the major reasons behind his ouster, as many political pundits here say, was his efforts to normalise ties with New Delhi.

Shahbaz, who is a prime ministerial candidate from his party, also asked India to leave behind the past tensions between the arch-rivals and starts afresh.

"The US and North Korea talks should be a role model for Pakistan and Indian. If they can return from their previous hostile positions of attacking each other, Pakistan and India can also resume composite dialogue," he said.

The leader said a dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir was needed to resolve the long-festering dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.

The PML-N chief said if his party returns to power in&nbsp;July 25&nbsp;elections, it will promote peace in the region with a focus on Afghanistan, as peace in Afghanistan is "inextricably intertwined" with peace and security in Pakistan.

He welcomed the initiatives mooted by the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban for ceasefire in Afghanistan during Eid-ul-Fitr.

Terming it as a positive first step towards promoting an Afghan-led Afghan-owned peace process, Shahbaz said the PML-N government had played a pivotal role in initiating steps for peace in Afghanistan, including hosting the first-ever direct, face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban in Murree in July 2015.

Ever since the start of Korean War, the two nations have been at odds with one another - both threatening to use military force with their nuclear arsenals facing each other

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's brother and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif has asked India to resume peace talks with Islamabad, saying the Singapore summit between the US and North Korea should set a good precedent for both the bickering neighbours to follow. Marking an epoch in the history of the decades-long tense relationship between the US and North Korea, leaders of the two countries yesterday met in Singapore for a summit where the North's Kim Jong-un pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearisation" in return for security guarantees from Washington. "Ever since the start of Korean War, the two nations have been at odds with one another - both threatening to use military force with their nuclear arsenals facing each other. "If the United States and North Korea can return from the brink of a nuclear flashpoint, there is no reason why Pakistan and India cannot do the same ... Beginning with a dialogue on Kashmir whose heroic people have resisted and rejected Indian occupation," Shahbaz Sharif said in a series of tweets. He further said: "It is time for comprehensive peace talks in our region. International community must focus on the peace process in Afghanistan. Dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir should also resume so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions." This is a rare statement from Shahbaz Sharif on India, contrary to his elder brother (Nawaz Sharif) whose one of the major reasons behind his ouster, as many political pundits here say, was his efforts to normalise ties with New Delhi. Shahbaz, who is a prime ministerial candidate from his party, also asked India to leave behind the past tensions between the arch-rivals and starts afresh. "The US and North Korea talks should be a role model for Pakistan and Indian. If they can return from their previous hostile positions of attacking each other, Pakistan and India can also resume composite dialogue," he said. The leader said a dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir was needed to resolve the long-festering dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. The PML-N chief said if his party returns to power in July 25 elections, it will promote peace in the region with a focus on Afghanistan, as peace in Afghanistan is "inextricably intertwined" with peace and security in Pakistan. He welcomed the initiatives mooted by the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban for ceasefire in Afghanistan during Eid-ul-Fitr. Terming it as a positive first step towards promoting an Afghan-led Afghan-owned peace process, Shahbaz said the PML-N government had played a pivotal role in initiating steps for peace in Afghanistan, including hosting the first-ever direct, face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban in Murree in July 2015.

After US-North Korea summit, PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif asks India to follow suit

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-summit-helped-world-avoid-nuclear-catastrophe-says-trump-143977">Summit with Kim helped avoid 'nuclear catastrophe', says Trump</a>

Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has helped bring the world back from "nuclear catastrophe," the US president said Tuesday. "The World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe!" Trump tweeted.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-4-bsf-personnel-killed-in-ceasefire-violation-by-pakistan-143986">Jammu and Kashmir: 4 BSF personnel killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan</a>

Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel lost their lives and three others sustained injuries in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Chambliyal sector of Samba in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lowest-form-of-politics-says-bjp-after-rahul-alleges-modi-humiliated-vajpayee-advani-143987">'Lowest form of politics,' says BJP after Rahul alleges Modi humiliated Vajpayee, Advani</a>

The BJP accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of practising the "lowest form of politics" after he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of humiliating former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior BJP leader LK Advani. News reports quoted Gandhi as having said at a rally in Mumbai that the Congress had accorded more respect to Advani than Modi.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ex-chief-justice-of-pakistan-challenges-imran-khans-eligibility-to-hold-office-over-love-child-row-143976">Love child row: Ex-chief justice of Pakistan alleges Imran Khan ineligible for office</a>

Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Sunday said he will file a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Supreme Court for fathering a love child out of wedlock, and hence claim his ineligibility to hold public office.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-students-death-not-in-vain-helped-lead-to-north-korean-summit-trump-143978">US student's death not in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-students-death-not-in-vain-helped-lead-to-north-korean-summit-trump-143978">vain,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-students-death-not-in-vain-helped-lead-to-north-korean-summit-trump-143978"> helped lead to North Korean summit: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the college student Otto Warmbier's death has lad to the historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.&nbspTrump said that Otto did not die in vein days after he was released from jail in North Korean custody in 2017. His parents thanked President Donald Trump for the kind words about their son he gave after his historic summit with North Korea’s leader.

Summit with Kim helped avoid 'nuclear catastrophe', says Trump Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has helped bring the world back from "nuclear catastrophe," the US president said Tuesday. "The World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe!" Trump tweeted. Jammu and Kashmir: 4 BSF personnel killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel lost their lives and three others sustained injuries in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Chambliyal sector of Samba in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. 'Lowest form of politics,' says BJP after Rahul alleges Modi humiliated Vajpayee, Advani The BJP accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of practising the "lowest form of politics" after he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of humiliating former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior BJP leader LK Advani. News reports quoted Gandhi as having said at a rally in Mumbai that the Congress had accorded more respect to Advani than Modi. Love child row: Ex-chief justice of Pakistan alleges Imran Khan ineligible for office Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Sunday said he will file a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Supreme Court for fathering a love child out of wedlock, and hence claim his ineligibility to hold public office. US student's death not in vain, helped lead to North Korean summit: Trump US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the college student Otto Warmbier's death has lad to the historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.&nbspTrump said that Otto did not die in vein days after he was released from jail in North Korean custody in 2017. His parents thanked President Donald Trump for the kind words about their son he gave after his historic summit with North Korea’s leader.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the college student Otto Warmbier's death has lad to the historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.&nbsp;

Trump said that Otto did not die in vein days after he was released from jail in North Korean custody in 2017. His parents thanked President Donald Trump for the kind words about their son he gave after his historic summit with North Korea’s leader.

"Without Otto this would not have happened," Trump told a post-summit news conference in Singapore.

"Something happened from that day. It was a terrible thing, it was brutal, but a lot of people started to focus on what was going on, including North Korea."

"I really think that Otto is someone who did not die in vain."

In September last year, Trump accused North Korea of brutally abusing &nbsp;Warmbier and the President publicly accused the country of torture in the case.

Warmbier was a student at University of Virginia who was arrested by North Korean authorities in January 2016 for stealing a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor. After suffering still unexplained brain injuries, he was released on June 13, 2017 and died six days later.

An Ohio coroner said the cause of his death was lack of oxygen and blood to the brain.

North Korea blamed botulism and ingestion of a sleeping pill and dismissed torture claims.

<img alt="3fbd94f9ffef022296cdf76a619cf3eb_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1000" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/3fbd94f9ffef022296cdf76a619cf3eb_0.jpg" width="650" />

His parents thanked President Donald Trump for the kind words about their son he gave after his historic summit with North Korea’s leader

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the college student Otto Warmbier's death has lad to the historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Trump said that Otto did not die in vein days after he was released from jail in North Korean custody in 2017. His parents thanked President Donald Trump for the kind words about their son he gave after his historic summit with North Korea’s leader. "Without Otto this would not have happened," Trump told a post-summit news conference in Singapore. "Something happened from that day. It was a terrible thing, it was brutal, but a lot of people started to focus on what was going on, including North Korea." "I really think that Otto is someone who did not die in vain." In September last year, Trump accused North Korea of brutally abusing Warmbier and the President publicly accused the country of torture in the case. Warmbier was a student at University of Virginia who was arrested by North Korean authorities in January 2016 for stealing a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor. After suffering still unexplained brain injuries, he was released on June 13, 2017 and died six days later. An Ohio coroner said the cause of his death was lack of oxygen and blood to the brain. North Korea blamed botulism and ingestion of a sleeping pill and dismissed torture claims.

US student's death not in vain, helped lead to North Korean summit: Trump

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/cbi-requests-interpol-for-red-corner-notice-against-nirav-modis-brother-nishal--company-executive-suresh-shankar-144177">CBI requests Interpol for Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi's brother Nishal</a>

India's premier investigating agency the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has requested the Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice(RCN) against Nirav Modi's brother Nishal Modi and his company executive Suresh Shankar.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-massive-fire-atop-prabhadevi-high-rise-no-loss-of-life-reported-144112">Mumbai: Fire at Prabhadevi high rise contained, no loss of life reported</a>

According to reports, fire at Mumbai's BeauMonde Towers has been contained. A major fire broke out on the top floor of a high rise building in Mumbai's Prabhadevi area on Wednesday. Level - II fire broke out in BeauMonde Towers at Appasaheb Marathe Marg in Prabhadevi locality, Worli, ANI reported.

<a href="http://wionews.com/sports/fernando-hierro-named-new-coach-after-spain-sacks-julen-lopetegui--144176">Fernando Hierro named new coach after Spain sacks Julen Lopetegui</a>

Former Spanish footballer Fernando Hierro on Wednesday was announced as the new coach of Spain football team, hours after association sacked Julen Lopetegui.&nbsp

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-former-president-maumoon-abdul-gayoom-sentenced-to-jail-144155">Maldives: Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom sentenced to jail&nbsp</a>

According to reports, former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been sentenced to jail. Maumoon will serve a total of 1 year 7 months and 6 days in jail.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/north-korea-no-longer-a-nuclear-threat-says-trump-144139">'North Korea no longer a nuclear threat,' says Trump</a>

President Trump said today that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat as he arrived at US Air Force base in Maryland after successfully concluded his meeting with Kim Jong-un on Tuesday.

&nbsp

CBI requests Interpol for Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi's brother Nishal India's premier investigating agency the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has requested the Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice(RCN) against Nirav Modi's brother Nishal Modi and his company executive Suresh Shankar. Mumbai: Fire at Prabhadevi high rise contained, no loss of life reported According to reports, fire at Mumbai's BeauMonde Towers has been contained. A major fire broke out on the top floor of a high rise building in Mumbai's Prabhadevi area on Wednesday. Level - II fire broke out in BeauMonde Towers at Appasaheb Marathe Marg in Prabhadevi locality, Worli, ANI reported. Fernando Hierro named new coach after Spain sacks Julen Lopetegui Former Spanish footballer Fernando Hierro on Wednesday was announced as the new coach of Spain football team, hours after association sacked Julen Lopetegui. Maldives: Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom sentenced to jail According to reports, former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been sentenced to jail. Maumoon will serve a total of 1 year 7 months and 6 days in jail. 'North Korea no longer a nuclear threat,' says Trump President Trump said today that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat as he arrived at US Air Force base in Maryland after successfully concluded his meeting with Kim Jong-un on Tuesday.

News brief: Read big stories of the day

China urges all parties concerned to the Korean Peninsula issue to build perseverance, maintain patience and make unremitting efforts to find a political settlement of the Peninsula issue, said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang.

Geng, the spokesman, made the remarks at a regular briefing in Beijing&nbsp;on Wednesday.

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump met in Singapore&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;for a landmark summit. The two leaders signed a "comprehensive" joint statement after their summit. The United States would be committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK in exchange for Pyongyang's commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Geng said that a good beginning is half done.

"We think that after a long time of hostility and confrontation between the DPRK and the US, it was of great and positive historic significance for the top leaders of the two countries to sit together and have dialogue on an equal footing. The achievements reached by the two leaders are an important step toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ending hostility and confrontation, and pursuing lasting peace and prosperity of the peninsula. The Korean Peninsula issue has its complexity and particularity, which cannot be resolved overnight. It requires all parties to build perseverance, maintain patience and make unremitting efforts over the Korean Peninsula issue," said Geng.

Geng said China hopes and supports the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders, promote follow-up consultations, further consolidate and expand the achievements, and make the political settlement of the Peninsula issue a sustainable and irreversible process.

"As a close neighbor of the peninsula and an important party to the issue, China stands ready to work with other relevant parties toward denuclearization and the establishment of a mechanism for peace on the Korean Peninsula, and make positive efforts and contribution to early realization of long-term peace and stability of the peninsula," said Geng.

Geng also reiterated China's stance over the sanctions that United Nations (UN) has imposed on DPRK when answering a reporter's question.

"China always believes that sanctions are not the goals. All parties should support and cooperate with the efforts of diplomatic dialogues and denuclearization, and push forward the process of political settlement of the Peninsula issue," said Geng.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The two leaders signed a "comprehensive" joint statement after their summit

China urges all parties concerned to the Korean Peninsula issue to build perseverance, maintain patience and make unremitting efforts to find a political settlement of the Peninsula issue, said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang. Geng, the spokesman, made the remarks at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met in Singapore on Tuesday for a landmark summit. The two leaders signed a "comprehensive" joint statement after their summit. The United States would be committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK in exchange for Pyongyang's commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Geng said that a good beginning is half done. "We think that after a long time of hostility and confrontation between the DPRK and the US, it was of great and positive historic significance for the top leaders of the two countries to sit together and have dialogue on an equal footing. The achievements reached by the two leaders are an important step toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ending hostility and confrontation, and pursuing lasting peace and prosperity of the peninsula. The Korean Peninsula issue has its complexity and particularity, which cannot be resolved overnight. It requires all parties to build perseverance, maintain patience and make unremitting efforts over the Korean Peninsula issue," said Geng. Geng said China hopes and supports the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders, promote follow-up consultations, further consolidate and expand the achievements, and make the political settlement of the Peninsula issue a sustainable and irreversible process. "As a close neighbor of the peninsula and an important party to the issue, China stands ready to work with other relevant parties toward denuclearization and the establishment of a mechanism for peace on the Korean Peninsula, and make positive efforts and contribution to early realization of long-term peace and stability of the peninsula," said Geng. Geng also reiterated China's stance over the sanctions that United Nations (UN) has imposed on DPRK when answering a reporter's question. "China always believes that sanctions are not the goals. All parties should support and cooperate with the efforts of diplomatic dialogues and denuclearization, and push forward the process of political settlement of the Peninsula issue," said Geng.

China urges perseverance, patience from all parties over Korean Peninsula

President Trump said today that<a href="http://wionews.com/world/now-china-backs-trumps-decision-to-stop-war-games-on-korean-peninsula-144113"> North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat</a> as he arrived at US Air Force base in Maryland after successfully concluded his meeting with Kim Jong-un on Tuesday.

"Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to war with North Korea," he said on Twitter as Air Force One touched down in the US, adding,"President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem, no longer - sleep well tonight!"

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to War with North Korea. President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer - sleep well tonight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1006839007492308992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

President Trump and <a href="http://wionews.com/world/we-got-along-from-the-beginning-trump-says-of-kim-commentators-say-us-prez-got-outfoxed-144089">North Korean leader Kim Jong-un</a> had met at the Capella hotel in Singapore for a&nbsp;face-to-face summit to resolve differences as Kim pledged to "denuclearise" the Korean Peninsula and bring hostilities with its neighbour South Korea to an end.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1006837823469735936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience," an elated President said.&nbsp;

"North Korea has great potential for the future," he added in his tweet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We save a fortune by not doing war games, as long as we are negotiating in good faith - which both sides are!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1006856219200548864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Earlier the President had said the world had taken a "step back" from potential nuclear catastrophe, asserting that there wouldn't be anymore "rocket launches, nuclear testing or research" referring to North Korea's peace moves during the Singapore summit.

"I want to thank chairman Kim for taking the first bold step toward a bright new future for his people," the US president said in his tweet, while saying that it was an "unprecedented meeting" "the first between an American President and a leader of North Korea – proves that real change is possible!

"There is no limit to what North Korea can achieve," he noted. &nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eBuDbLQFVSc" width="560"></iframe>

Earlier the President had said the world had taken a "step back" from potential nuclear catastrophe

President Trump said today that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat as he arrived at US Air Force base in Maryland after successfully concluded his meeting with Kim Jong-un on Tuesday. "Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to war with North Korea," he said on Twitter as Air Force One touched down in the US, adding,"President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem, no longer - sleep well tonight!" Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to War with North Korea. President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer - sleep well tonight! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2018 × President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had met at the Capella hotel in Singapore for a face-to-face summit to resolve differences as Kim pledged to "denuclearise" the Korean Peninsula and bring hostilities with its neighbour South Korea to an end. Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2018 × "There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience," an elated President said. "North Korea has great potential for the future," he added in his tweet. We save a fortune by not doing war games, as long as we are negotiating in good faith - which both sides are! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2018 × Earlier the President had said the world had taken a "step back" from potential nuclear catastrophe, asserting that there wouldn't be anymore "rocket launches, nuclear testing or research" referring to North Korea's peace moves during the Singapore summit. "I want to thank chairman Kim for taking the first bold step toward a bright new future for his people," the US president said in his tweet, while saying that it was an "unprecedented meeting" "the first between an American President and a leader of North Korea – proves that real change is possible! "There is no limit to what North Korea can achieve," he noted.

'North Korea no longer a nuclear threat,' says Trump

North&nbsp;Korean state media lauded on Wednesday the&nbsp;summit&nbsp;between Kim Jong Un and Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;as a resounding success, highlighting&nbsp;concessions&nbsp;by the US&nbsp;president and the prospect of a new era of peace and prosperity on the&nbsp;Korean peninsula.

The&nbsp;Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;expressed his intention to halt US-South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;military exercises, offer security guarantees to the&nbsp;North&nbsp;and lift sanctions against it as relations improve.

The US president told a news conference on Tuesday,&nbsp;after&nbsp;his&nbsp;summit&nbsp;with&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's leader in Singapore, he would like to lift sanctions against it but it would not happen immediately.

Kim and&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;invited each other to their respective countries and both leaders "gladly accepted", KCNA reported.

The&nbsp;summit&nbsp;was the first between a sitting US&nbsp;president and a&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean leader and followed a flurry of&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean nuclear and missile tests and angry exchanges of insults and threats between&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Kim last year that fuelled fears of&nbsp;war.

"Kim Jong Un and&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had the shared recognition to the effect that it is important to abide by the principle of step-by-step and simultaneous action in achieving peace, stability and denuclearisation of the&nbsp;Korean Peninsula," KCNA said.

Trump&nbsp;confirmed the United States would stop military exercises with South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;while&nbsp;NorthKorea&nbsp;negotiated on denuclearisation.

"We're not going to be doing the&nbsp;war&nbsp;games&nbsp;as long as we're negotiating in good faith,"&nbsp;Trump told Fox News Channel in an interview in Singapore&nbsp;after&nbsp;the&nbsp;summit.

"So that's good for a number of reasons, in addition to which we save a tremendous amount of money,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said.&nbsp;"You know, those things, they cost.&nbsp;I hate to appear a businessman, but I kept saying, what's it costing?"

US&nbsp;Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said&nbsp;Trump's reasoning for halting the exercises was "ridiculous".

"It's not a burden onto the American taxpayer to have a forward deployed force in South&nbsp;Korea," Graham told CNN.

"It brings stability. It's a&nbsp;warning to China that you can't just take over the whole region. So I reject that analysis that it costs too much, but I do accept the proposition, let's stand down (on military exercises) and see if we can find a better way here."

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he hoped all parties could "grasp the moment of positive changes" on the peninsula to take constructive steps towards a political resolution and promoting denuclearisation.

"At this time, everyone had seen that&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has halted missile and nuclear tests, and the United States and South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;have to an extent restricted their military actions. This has de facto realised China's dual suspension proposal," he told a daily news briefing.

"When it comes to&nbsp;Trump's statement yesterday that he would halt South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States' military drills, I can only say that China's proposal is indeed practical and reasonable, is in line with all sides interests and can resolve all sides concerns."

China,&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's main ally, last year proposed what it calls a "dual suspension", whereby North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;suspend nuclear and missile tests, and South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States suspend military drills.

Surprise

There was some confusion over precisely what military cooperation with South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had promised to halt.

The US-South&nbsp;Korean exercise calendar hits a high point every year with the Foal Eagle and Max Thunder drills, which both wrapped up last month. Another major exercise is due in August.

The United States maintains about 28,500 soldiers in South&nbsp;Korea, which remains in a technical state of&nbsp;war&nbsp;with the&nbsp;North&nbsp;after&nbsp;the 1950-53&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;War&nbsp;ended in a truce not a peace treaty.

Trump's announcement on the exercises was a surprise even to South&nbsp;Korea's President Moon Jae-in, who has worked in recent months to help bring about the&nbsp;Trump-Kim&nbsp;summit.

Asked about&nbsp;Trump's comments, South&nbsp;Korean presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters there was a need to seek measures that would help improve engagement with&nbsp;North Korea&nbsp;but it was also necessary to confirm exactly what&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had meant.

Moon will be chairing a national security meeting on Thursday to discuss the&nbsp;summit.

Trump's administration had previously ruled out any&nbsp;concessions&nbsp;or lifting of sanctions without North&nbsp;Korea's commitment to complete, verifiable and irreversible steps to scrap a nuclear arsenal that is advanced enough to threaten the United States.

But a joint statement issued&nbsp;after&nbsp;the&nbsp;summit&nbsp;said only&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;"commits to work towards the complete denuclearisation of the&nbsp;Korean peninsula".

Critics in the United States said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had given away too much at a meeting that gave Kim long-sought international standing.

The&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean leader had been isolated, his country accused of widespread human rights abuses and under UN&nbsp;sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"For&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea, they got exactly what they wanted," said Moon Seong-mook, a former SouthKorean military official current head of the Unification Strategy Centre in Seoul.

"They had a&nbsp;summit&nbsp;as a nuclear state with Kim on equal turf with&nbsp;Trump, got the United States to halt joint military exercises with South&nbsp;Korea. It's a win for Kim Jong Un."

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due in Seoul on Wednesday. He is scheduled to meet Moon on Thursday and then hold a trilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

Hope

Japan's Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said that, while&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;had pledged denuclearisation, no concrete steps had been taken and Japan would not let down its guard.

"We see US-South&nbsp;Korean joint exercises and the US&nbsp;military presence in South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;as vital to security in East Asia," Onodera told reporters. "It is up to the US&nbsp;and South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;to decide about their joint exercises. We have no intention of changing our joint drills with the US."

Japan would only start shouldering the costs of&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's denuclearisation&nbsp;after&nbsp;the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

The Singapore&nbsp;summit&nbsp;did not get top billing in the main state news outlets in China.

The ruling Communist Party's main newspaper, the People's Daily, published a brief report on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's reaction to the talks.

The English-language China Daily said in an editorial that, while it remained to be seen if the summit&nbsp;would be a defining moment, the fact it went smoothly was positive.

"It has ignited hopes that they will be finally able to put an end to their hostility and that the long-standing peninsula issues can finally be resolved. These hopes should not be extinguished," it said.

Kim and Trump invited each other to their respective countries and both leaders 'gladly accepted', KCNA reported

North Korean state media lauded on Wednesday the summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump as a resounding success, highlighting concessions by the US president and the prospect of a new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Trump expressed his intention to halt US-South Korea military exercises, offer security guarantees to the North and lift sanctions against it as relations improve. The US president told a news conference on Tuesday, after his summit with North Korea's leader in Singapore, he would like to lift sanctions against it but it would not happen immediately. Kim and Trump invited each other to their respective countries and both leaders "gladly accepted", KCNA reported. The summit was the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader and followed a flurry of North Korean nuclear and missile tests and angry exchanges of insults and threats between Trump and Kim last year that fuelled fears of war. "Kim Jong Un and Trump had the shared recognition to the effect that it is important to abide by the principle of step-by-step and simultaneous action in achieving peace, stability and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," KCNA said. Trump confirmed the United States would stop military exercises with South Korea while NorthKorea negotiated on denuclearisation. "We're not going to be doing the war games as long as we're negotiating in good faith," Trump told Fox News Channel in an interview in Singapore after the summit. "So that's good for a number of reasons, in addition to which we save a tremendous amount of money," Trump said. "You know, those things, they cost. I hate to appear a businessman, but I kept saying, what's it costing?" US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump's reasoning for halting the exercises was "ridiculous". "It's not a burden onto the American taxpayer to have a forward deployed force in South Korea," Graham told CNN. "It brings stability. It's a warning to China that you can't just take over the whole region. So I reject that analysis that it costs too much, but I do accept the proposition, let's stand down (on military exercises) and see if we can find a better way here." Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he hoped all parties could "grasp the moment of positive changes" on the peninsula to take constructive steps towards a political resolution and promoting denuclearisation. "At this time, everyone had seen that North Korea has halted missile and nuclear tests, and the United States and South Korea have to an extent restricted their military actions. This has de facto realised China's dual suspension proposal," he told a daily news briefing. "When it comes to Trump's statement yesterday that he would halt South Korea and the United States' military drills, I can only say that China's proposal is indeed practical and reasonable, is in line with all sides interests and can resolve all sides concerns." China, North Korea's main ally, last year proposed what it calls a "dual suspension", whereby North Korea suspend nuclear and missile tests, and South Korea and the United States suspend military drills. Surprise There was some confusion over precisely what military cooperation with South Korea Trump had promised to halt. The US-South Korean exercise calendar hits a high point every year with the Foal Eagle and Max Thunder drills, which both wrapped up last month. Another major exercise is due in August. The United States maintains about 28,500 soldiers in South Korea, which remains in a technical state of war with the North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce not a peace treaty. Trump's announcement on the exercises was a surprise even to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, who has worked in recent months to help bring about the Trump-Kim summit. Asked about Trump's comments, South Korean presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters there was a need to seek measures that would help improve engagement with North Korea but it was also necessary to confirm exactly what Trump had meant. Moon will be chairing a national security meeting on Thursday to discuss the summit. Trump's administration had previously ruled out any concessions or lifting of sanctions without North Korea's commitment to complete, verifiable and irreversible steps to scrap a nuclear arsenal that is advanced enough to threaten the United States. But a joint statement issued after the summit said only North Korea "commits to work towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". Critics in the United States said Trump had given away too much at a meeting that gave Kim long-sought international standing. The North Korean leader had been isolated, his country accused of widespread human rights abuses and under UN sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. "For North Korea, they got exactly what they wanted," said Moon Seong-mook, a former SouthKorean military official current head of the Unification Strategy Centre in Seoul. "They had a summit as a nuclear state with Kim on equal turf with Trump, got the United States to halt joint military exercises with South Korea. It's a win for Kim Jong Un." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due in Seoul on Wednesday. He is scheduled to meet Moon on Thursday and then hold a trilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Hope Japan's Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said that, while North Korea had pledged denuclearisation, no concrete steps had been taken and Japan would not let down its guard. "We see US-South Korean joint exercises and the US military presence in South Korea as vital to security in East Asia," Onodera told reporters. "It is up to the US and South Korea to decide about their joint exercises. We have no intention of changing our joint drills with the US." Japan would only start shouldering the costs of North Korea's denuclearisation after the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. The Singapore summit did not get top billing in the main state news outlets in China. The ruling Communist Party's main newspaper, the People's Daily, published a brief report on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's reaction to the talks. The English-language China Daily said in an editorial that, while it remained to be seen if the summit would be a defining moment, the fact it went smoothly was positive. "It has ignited hopes that they will be finally able to put an end to their hostility and that the long-standing peninsula issues can finally be resolved. These hopes should not be extinguished," it said.

North Korea highlights Trump concessions on war games after summit

The Kremlin said&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;that a summit between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un showed Russian President Vladimir Putin had been right to advocate direct dialogue as the only way of reducing tensions with North Korea.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that the summit, held in Singapore&nbsp;on Tuesday, had helped reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

But he said it would have been wrong to have expected that all of the issues surrounding North Korea's missile and nuclear programme could have been solved in an hour.

"We still need to analyse the results of the meeting," said Peskov. "But the fact that it took place can only be welcomed. Such meetings help ease tensions and move us away from the critical point reached several months ago."

Russia and China have long been pushing a joint de-escalation plan that suggests Pyongyang suspend its ballistic missile programme in return for the United States and South Korea ceasing large-scale missile exercises.

Peskov said the summit showed that Putin - who he said would meet Kim Yong Nam, a top official from North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly in Moscow&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;- had been right all along.

"In such complicated conditions, it would have been wrong to hope that the problems could be solved in an hour," said Peskov, referring to the meeting.

"But the very fact (that the summit took place) underlines that Putin was right. The only possible path is one of direct dialogue."

Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow with his Greek counterpart that Moscow advocated a return to six-party talks to work through some of the issues and that it was important that the entire Korean Peninsula, not just North Korea, was free of nuclear arms.

Lavrov said it was unlikely that Washington and Pyongyang would be able to fully solve all the problems on the Korean Peninsula, saying a new security system was needed for all of north-east Asia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that the summit, held in Singapore on Tuesday, had helped reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un showed Russian President Vladimir Putin had been right to advocate direct dialogue as the only way of reducing tensions with North Korea. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that the summit, held in Singapore on Tuesday, had helped reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. But he said it would have been wrong to have expected that all of the issues surrounding North Korea's missile and nuclear programme could have been solved in an hour. "We still need to analyse the results of the meeting," said Peskov. "But the fact that it took place can only be welcomed. Such meetings help ease tensions and move us away from the critical point reached several months ago." Russia and China have long been pushing a joint de-escalation plan that suggests Pyongyang suspend its ballistic missile programme in return for the United States and South Korea ceasing large-scale missile exercises. Peskov said the summit showed that Putin - who he said would meet Kim Yong Nam, a top official from North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly in Moscow on Thursday - had been right all along. "In such complicated conditions, it would have been wrong to hope that the problems could be solved in an hour," said Peskov, referring to the meeting. "But the very fact (that the summit took place) underlines that Putin was right. The only possible path is one of direct dialogue." Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow with his Greek counterpart that Moscow advocated a return to six-party talks to work through some of the issues and that it was important that the entire Korean Peninsula, not just North Korea, was free of nuclear arms. Lavrov said it was unlikely that Washington and Pyongyang would be able to fully solve all the problems on the Korean Peninsula, saying a new security system was needed for all of north-east Asia.

Kremlin says Trump-Kim summit proves Putin was right about North Korea

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian criticised Donald Trump's "destabilising" foreign policy today after the US leader fell out with historic US allies then "practically hugged" North Korea's dictator in a matter of days.

Le Drian said yesterday's historic summit between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un was "an undoubted step forward", but he expressed concern about the US president's diplomatic manoeuvres.

"In the space of just a day you see President Trump attacking Mr Trudeau who is a historic ally, and you see President Trump breaking with his collective allies after the G7 meeting in Quebec, and the next day practically hugged a dictator born into a Communist dictatorship which just a few days ago he said he was completely opposed to," he said.

"We are in a destabilising situation," Le Drian told CNews television.

"President Trump has decided to progressively dismantle the tools of multilateralism created after the last war. It is a period of uncertainty and risk... America is shutting itself away in its fortress of power."

Trump's critics have seized on his warm embrace of Kim, days after a spectacular bust-up with G7 allies at a summit in Canada, as the latest sign of his rapport with autocrats.

Trump clashed badly with leaders of the G7's Western democracies over tariffs and accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being "dishonest and weak" at a summit that ended in farce last weekend.

Like many officials, Le Drian raised questions over how Kim's promise to help rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons could be achieved.

"There have already been in the past gestures towards denuclearisation by the father of Kim Jong Un that came to nothing," Le Drian said.

"So today it's good news, let's take it as such, but let's make sure this principle of denuclearisation which was flaunted at this summit is really irreversible and verifiable."

Le Drian said yesterday's historic summit between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un was 'an undoubted step forward'

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian criticised Donald Trump's "destabilising" foreign policy today after the US leader fell out with historic US allies then "practically hugged" North Korea's dictator in a matter of days. Le Drian said yesterday's historic summit between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un was "an undoubted step forward", but he expressed concern about the US president's diplomatic manoeuvres. "In the space of just a day you see President Trump attacking Mr Trudeau who is a historic ally, and you see President Trump breaking with his collective allies after the G7 meeting in Quebec, and the next day practically hugged a dictator born into a Communist dictatorship which just a few days ago he said he was completely opposed to," he said. "We are in a destabilising situation," Le Drian told CNews television. "President Trump has decided to progressively dismantle the tools of multilateralism created after the last war. It is a period of uncertainty and risk... America is shutting itself away in its fortress of power." Trump's critics have seized on his warm embrace of Kim, days after a spectacular bust-up with G7 allies at a summit in Canada, as the latest sign of his rapport with autocrats. Trump clashed badly with leaders of the G7's Western democracies over tariffs and accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being "dishonest and weak" at a summit that ended in farce last weekend. Like many officials, Le Drian raised questions over how Kim's promise to help rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons could be achieved. "There have already been in the past gestures towards denuclearisation by the father of Kim Jong Un that came to nothing," Le Drian said. "So today it's good news, let's take it as such, but let's make sure this principle of denuclearisation which was flaunted at this summit is really irreversible and verifiable."

France alarmed after Trump 'practically hugged' Kim: Minister

China said today it supported <a href="http://wionews.com/world/we-got-along-from-the-beginning-trump-says-of-kim-commentators-say-us-prez-got-outfoxed-144089">Trump's freeze on stopping </a>war games along the Korean Peninsula.

President Trump had announced South Korea and the United States wouldn't be conducting any more war games calling it "inappropriate" in the present climate after successfully concluding his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Singapore on Tuesday.

China backed President Trump's decision saying that its proposal of "dual suspension" proposal was a practical solution. According to the dual suspension proposed by China, South Korea and the US were to halt war games on the Korean Peninsula and in exchange North Korea would suspend its nuclear missile programme.

However, after Tuesday's summit between Trump and Kim, the situation on the ground has changed rapidly with the North Korean leader signing an agreement with the US to take steps towards "denuclearisation" of the Korean Peninsula.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eBuDbLQFVSc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

President Trump had announced South Korea and the United States wouldn't be conducting any more war games

China said today it supported Trump's freeze on stopping war games along the Korean Peninsula. President Trump had announced South Korea and the United States wouldn't be conducting any more war games calling it "inappropriate" in the present climate after successfully concluding his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Singapore on Tuesday. China backed President Trump's decision saying that its proposal of "dual suspension" proposal was a practical solution. According to the dual suspension proposed by China, South Korea and the US were to halt war games on the Korean Peninsula and in exchange North Korea would suspend its nuclear missile programme. However, after Tuesday's summit between Trump and Kim, the situation on the ground has changed rapidly with the North Korean leader signing an agreement with the US to take steps towards "denuclearisation" of the Korean Peninsula.

Now, China backs Trump's decision to stop war games on Korean Peninsula

US President Donald Trump has said "we got along right from the beginning" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.&nbsp;

The comment was made to the Voice of America's Greta Van Susteren after Trump's summit meeting with Kim on Tuesday. Trump gushed some more about Kim in the interview to VoA.&nbsp;

"Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that, but he loves his people. And I think that we have the start of an amazing deal. We’re going to denuke North Korea," Trump told Susteren.&nbsp;

Susteren of course asked Trump if he was certain about his choice of words. Did Kim really "love his people" considering how many he had starved and brutalised?&nbsp;

Trump covered for Kim by telling Susteren: &nbsp;“Look, he’s doing what he’s seen done, if you look at it. But, I really have to go by today and by yesterday and by a couple of weeks ago because that’s really when this whole thing started."&nbsp;

The "we got along right from the beginning" had come in reply to a question about whether Trump or Kim had given each other ultimatums. Trump said there hadn't been one from either side.&nbsp;

“No, not an ultimatum. We’ve been dealing for three months really and we’ve been dealing through our various representatives including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who’s done a really fantastic job. So we’ve been dealing for a pretty good period of time and when we met today, we got along right from the beginning," Trump said.&nbsp;

Commentators however have said Trump was outfoxed in Singapore. And that while Trump has put a stop to the US's military exercises with South Korea — which the commentators add will blunt US and South Korean troops' preparedness for war — North Korea has in return given very little.&nbsp;

They add that Kim might have told Trump North Korea is willing to "denuclearise" but that the country has been saying saying that since 1992.&nbsp;

Trump told Susteren American troops would continue to be stationed in South Korea but that the "war games" are going to stop because they "cost a fortune".&nbsp;

"We are going to get out of the war games that cost so much money. You know where we — cause I think number one, it’s very provocative, and I want to do it, and I think they’re very happy about it because it is so provocative. But it cost a fortune to do it. And we won’t do that as long as we are negotiating in good faith,” Trump said.&nbsp;

Trump went on to say of Kim: "I think he liked me and I like him. And I understand the past and, you know, nobody has to tell me, he’s a rough guy. He has to be a rough guy or he has been a rough person. But we got along very well. He’s smart, loves his people, he loves his country. He wants a lot of good things and that’s why he’s doing this.”

Susteren also asked Trump what he wanted to say "directly to the citizens of North Korea”.&nbsp;

“Well, I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry — you understand how I feel about chemistry. It’s very important. I mean, I know people where there is no chemistry no matter what you do you just don’t have it. We had it right from the beginning, I talked about that and I think great things are going to happen for North Korea,” Trump replied.&nbsp;

Trump made his comment to the Voice of America after his historic summit meeting with Kim. 'Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator,' Trump added

US President Donald Trump has said "we got along right from the beginning" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The comment was made to the Voice of America's Greta Van Susteren after Trump's summit meeting with Kim on Tuesday. Trump gushed some more about Kim in the interview to VoA. "Really, he’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people, not that I’m surprised by that, but he loves his people. And I think that we have the start of an amazing deal. We’re going to denuke North Korea," Trump told Susteren. Susteren of course asked Trump if he was certain about his choice of words. Did Kim really "love his people" considering how many he had starved and brutalised? Trump covered for Kim by telling Susteren: “Look, he’s doing what he’s seen done, if you look at it. But, I really have to go by today and by yesterday and by a couple of weeks ago because that’s really when this whole thing started." The "we got along right from the beginning" had come in reply to a question about whether Trump or Kim had given each other ultimatums. Trump said there hadn't been one from either side. “No, not an ultimatum. We’ve been dealing for three months really and we’ve been dealing through our various representatives including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who’s done a really fantastic job. So we’ve been dealing for a pretty good period of time and when we met today, we got along right from the beginning," Trump said. Commentators however have said Trump was outfoxed in Singapore. And that while Trump has put a stop to the US's military exercises with South Korea — which the commentators add will blunt US and South Korean troops' preparedness for war — North Korea has in return given very little. They add that Kim might have told Trump North Korea is willing to "denuclearise" but that the country has been saying saying that since 1992. Trump told Susteren American troops would continue to be stationed in South Korea but that the "war games" are going to stop because they "cost a fortune". "We are going to get out of the war games that cost so much money. You know where we — cause I think number one, it’s very provocative, and I want to do it, and I think they’re very happy about it because it is so provocative. But it cost a fortune to do it. And we won’t do that as long as we are negotiating in good faith,” Trump said. Trump went on to say of Kim: "I think he liked me and I like him. And I understand the past and, you know, nobody has to tell me, he’s a rough guy. He has to be a rough guy or he has been a rough person. But we got along very well. He’s smart, loves his people, he loves his country. He wants a lot of good things and that’s why he’s doing this.” Susteren also asked Trump what he wanted to say "directly to the citizens of North Korea”. “Well, I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry — you understand how I feel about chemistry. It’s very important. I mean, I know people where there is no chemistry no matter what you do you just don’t have it. We had it right from the beginning, I talked about that and I think great things are going to happen for North Korea,” Trump replied.

'We got along from the beginning,' Trump says of Kim. Commentators say Trump got outfoxed

Just hours after Kim Jong Unwrapped up a surprise evening sightseeing tour of Singapore&nbsp;on Monday, the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun crammed its front page with photographs snapped of the reclusive leader.

The official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea featured 14 photographs, covering more than half of the front page of its&nbsp;Tuesday&nbsp;issue, showing Kim jovially walking with officials from the city-state at a tropical garden as well as beside an infinity pool.

The speed of the coverage in Rodong Sinmun and other state media is unusual in a country where events are often reported a full day, if not longer after they happen.

The sense of fun in the reporting is also a contrast with the more sober way in which the North Korean media would usually handle an official trip.

It appears to reflect a new confidence among officials in North Korea that the isolated country has really been accepted onto the world stage. This is the furthest Kim is known to have travelled since he came to power in 2011 and there has never previously been a meeting between a US&nbsp;president and a North Korean leader.

Despite all pomp and circumstance, ordinary North Koreans are not confident that improvement in relations between the North and the United States will last long and give them a better economy, defectors say.

"They weren't too excited about the summit. North Korea had rice and medicine aid from the United States and other countries before, but that did not trickle down to ordinary people," said Park Hyun-sook, a defector who spoke to two relatives inside the North by phone&nbsp;on Saturday.

"Under sanctions, we have figured out the way to live on our own. Even under any better relationship with the US, it would be the same," Park told Reuters. Park used to smuggle North Korean goods into China to make a living near the border.

Many North Koreans are still filled with deep-rooted distrust towards Trump, which state media previously called a "lunatic old man", said Daily NK, a news website run by North Korean defectors who retain contacts with sources inside.

North Korea's official media brought a large number of reporters and camera operators to Singapore for the Kim trip, and they had access to various locations that was denied to media from elsewhere in the world.

For previous trips by Kim to China, state media had mostly reported the visits after Kim had returned to Pyongyang. In the case of the inter-Korea summit - which began on the morning of&nbsp;April 27&nbsp;- the coverage was largely delayed until early the next day.

In addition to the pictures of Kim on the tour&nbsp;on Tuesday, separate landscape shots of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, and a bird's-eye view of Singapore from the hotel's observation deck were also shown.

KCNA reported Kim as saying of the sightseeing tour that "Singapore is clean and beautiful and every building is stylish as he heard of in the past, adding he is going to learn a lot from the good knowledge and experience of Singapore in various fields in the future."

On Monday, Rodong Sinmun had shown Kim just before departing Pyongyang for Singapore, shaking hands with his officials and waving his hand inside the entrance of an Air China airplane ahead of takeoff.

State television aired the same photographs of Kim's departure as well as his arrival in Singapore and the North Korean leader's meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Presidential Palace.

The North Korean media still faces some barriers, though. It doesn't go live for such sensitive events.

In the capital of Pyongyang, North Koreans watched a big TV screen playing still photographs of Kim's visit to Singapore and read a newspaper about the trip at a subway station, media photographs showed.

But,&nbsp;on Tuesday, while all other international networks went live with Kim and Trump's first handshake and opening remarks at their meeting, the official Korean Central Television remained blank, choosing not to break with its usual broadcast schedule that usually begins&nbsp;five hours later.

The speed of the coverage in Rodong Sinmun and other state media is unusual in a country where events are often reported a full day, if not longer after they happen

Just hours after Kim Jong Unwrapped up a surprise evening sightseeing tour of Singapore on Monday, the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun crammed its front page with photographs snapped of the reclusive leader. The official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea featured 14 photographs, covering more than half of the front page of its Tuesday issue, showing Kim jovially walking with officials from the city-state at a tropical garden as well as beside an infinity pool. The speed of the coverage in Rodong Sinmun and other state media is unusual in a country where events are often reported a full day, if not longer after they happen. The sense of fun in the reporting is also a contrast with the more sober way in which the North Korean media would usually handle an official trip. It appears to reflect a new confidence among officials in North Korea that the isolated country has really been accepted onto the world stage. This is the furthest Kim is known to have travelled since he came to power in 2011 and there has never previously been a meeting between a US president and a North Korean leader. Despite all pomp and circumstance, ordinary North Koreans are not confident that improvement in relations between the North and the United States will last long and give them a better economy, defectors say. "They weren't too excited about the summit. North Korea had rice and medicine aid from the United States and other countries before, but that did not trickle down to ordinary people," said Park Hyun-sook, a defector who spoke to two relatives inside the North by phone on Saturday. "Under sanctions, we have figured out the way to live on our own. Even under any better relationship with the US, it would be the same," Park told Reuters. Park used to smuggle North Korean goods into China to make a living near the border. Many North Koreans are still filled with deep-rooted distrust towards Trump, which state media previously called a "lunatic old man", said Daily NK, a news website run by North Korean defectors who retain contacts with sources inside. North Korea's official media brought a large number of reporters and camera operators to Singapore for the Kim trip, and they had access to various locations that was denied to media from elsewhere in the world. For previous trips by Kim to China, state media had mostly reported the visits after Kim had returned to Pyongyang. In the case of the inter-Korea summit - which began on the morning of April 27 - the coverage was largely delayed until early the next day. In addition to the pictures of Kim on the tour on Tuesday, separate landscape shots of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, and a bird's-eye view of Singapore from the hotel's observation deck were also shown. KCNA reported Kim as saying of the sightseeing tour that "Singapore is clean and beautiful and every building is stylish as he heard of in the past, adding he is going to learn a lot from the good knowledge and experience of Singapore in various fields in the future." On Monday, Rodong Sinmun had shown Kim just before departing Pyongyang for Singapore, shaking hands with his officials and waving his hand inside the entrance of an Air China airplane ahead of takeoff. State television aired the same photographs of Kim's departure as well as his arrival in Singapore and the North Korean leader's meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Presidential Palace. The North Korean media still faces some barriers, though. It doesn't go live for such sensitive events. In the capital of Pyongyang, North Koreans watched a big TV screen playing still photographs of Kim's visit to Singapore and read a newspaper about the trip at a subway station, media photographs showed. But, on Tuesday, while all other international networks went live with Kim and Trump's first handshake and opening remarks at their meeting, the official Korean Central Television remained blank, choosing not to break with its usual broadcast schedule that usually begins five hours later.

North Korea state media plasters front pages with leader's Singapore trip

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a "comprehensive" document on Tuesday following a historic summit in Singapore aimed at the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

There were no immediate details on the contents of the document but Trump said he expected the denuclearisation process to start "very, very quickly".

Although the breakthrough made at the summit marks just the start of a diplomatic process, it could bring lasting change to the security landscape of Northeast Asia, just as former US&nbspPresident Richard Nixon visit to Beijing in 1972 led to the transformation of China.

Before signing what Trump described as a "comprehensive letter", Kim said the two leaders had a historic meeting “and decided to leave the past behind. The world will see a major change.”

Trump said he had formed a "very special bond" with Kim and that relationship with North Korea would be very different.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-summit-with-north-koreas-kim-better-than-anybody-expected-143755">Trump says summit with North Korea's Kim 'better than anybody expected'</a>

"People are going to be very impressed and people are going to be very happy and we are going to take care of a very dangerous problem for the world," Trump said.

Asked whether he would invite Kim to the White House, Trump said: "Absolutely, I will."

He called Kim "very smart" and a "very worthy, very hard negotiator."

"I learned he's a very talented man. I also learned that he loves his country very much."

During a post-lunch stroll through the gardens of the Singapore hotel where the summit was held, Trump said the summit had gone "better than anybody could have expected".

Kim stood silently alongside, but the North Korean leader had earlier described their meeting as a "a good prelude to peace".

Both men walked to Trump's bullet-proof limousine, nicknamed "The Beast", and looked in at the rear seat, with Trump apparently showing Kim something inside. They then resumed their walk.

They had appeared cautious and serious when they first arrived for the summit at the Capella hotel on Singapore's Sentosa, a resort island with luxury hotels, a casino, manmade beaches and a Universal Studios theme park.

But, with cameras of the world's press trained on them, they displayed an initial atmosphere of bonhomie as they met on the verandah of the Capella, a refurbished 19th century British regimental officers' mess.

After a handshake, they were soon smiling and holding each other by the arm, before Trump guided Kim to the library where they held a meeting with only their interpreters. Trump had said on Saturday he would know within a minute of meeting Kim whether he would reach a deal.

MARKETS RISE

Inside, they sat alongside each other against a backdrop of North Korean and U.S. flags, with Kim beaming broadly as the U.S. president gave him a thumbs up.

The combatants of the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce.

After initial exchanges lasting around 40 minutes, Trump and Kim emerged, walking side-by-side through the colonnaded hotel before entering a meeting room, where they were joined by their most senior officials.

Kim was heard telling Trump through a translator: "I think the entire world is watching this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a fantasy...science fiction movie."

Asked by a reporter how the meeting was going, Trump said: "Very good. Very, very good. Good relationship."

Kim also sounded positive about the prospects of peace.

"We overcame all kinds of scepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good for the peace," he said. "I believe this is a good prelude for peace."

The dollar jumped to a 3-week top on Tuesday and Asian shares rose on the news.

Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the expanded talks, while Kim's team included former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party.

As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels, and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled.

Body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met, but also displayed signs of nerves.

After the meetings, the two teams and other senior officials met for a working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and "Daegu Jormin", or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according to the menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and vanilla ice cream for dessert. The North Korean leader's sister and close confidante Kim Yo Jong was among the lunch party.

As the cameras captured the moment, Trump quipped: "Very nice. Getting a good picture everyone, so we all look nice and handsome and thin...perfect".

In the hours before the summit began, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, while Pompeo injected a note of caution whether Kim would prove to be sincere about his willingness to denuclearise.

Pompeo said the summit should set the framework for "the hard work that will follow", insisting that North Korea had to move toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

North Korea, however, has shown little appetite for surrendering nuclear weapons it considers vital to the survival of Kim's dynastic rule.

Sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until that happened, Pompeo said on Monday. "If diplomacy does not move in the right direction ... those measures will increase."

The White House said later that discussions with North Korea had moved "more quickly than expected" and Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night after the summit, rather than Wednesday, as scheduled earlier.

Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit has said.

Trump spoke to Moon and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, both key allies of Washington in the region, to discuss developments ahead of the summit.

"I too, got little sleep last night," Moon told his cabinet in Seoul as the summit began in Singapore.

"I truly hope it will be a successful summit that will open a new age for the two Koreas and the United States and bring us complete denuclearisation and peace."

Before signing what Trump described as a 'comprehensive letter', Kim said the two leaders had a historic meeting 'and decided to leave the past behind. The world will see a major change'. Trump said he had formed a 'very special bond' with Kim

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a "comprehensive" document on Tuesday following a historic summit in Singapore aimed at the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. There were no immediate details on the contents of the document but Trump said he expected the denuclearisation process to start "very, very quickly". Although the breakthrough made at the summit marks just the start of a diplomatic process, it could bring lasting change to the security landscape of Northeast Asia, just as former US&nbspPresident Richard Nixon visit to Beijing in 1972 led to the transformation of China. Before signing what Trump described as a "comprehensive letter", Kim said the two leaders had a historic meeting “and decided to leave the past behind. The world will see a major change.” Trump said he had formed a "very special bond" with Kim and that relationship with North Korea would be very different. Also read: Trump says summit with North Korea's Kim 'better than anybody expected' "People are going to be very impressed and people are going to be very happy and we are going to take care of a very dangerous problem for the world," Trump said. Asked whether he would invite Kim to the White House, Trump said: "Absolutely, I will." He called Kim "very smart" and a "very worthy, very hard negotiator." "I learned he's a very talented man. I also learned that he loves his country very much." During a post-lunch stroll through the gardens of the Singapore hotel where the summit was held, Trump said the summit had gone "better than anybody could have expected". Kim stood silently alongside, but the North Korean leader had earlier described their meeting as a "a good prelude to peace". Both men walked to Trump's bullet-proof limousine, nicknamed "The Beast", and looked in at the rear seat, with Trump apparently showing Kim something inside. They then resumed their walk. They had appeared cautious and serious when they first arrived for the summit at the Capella hotel on Singapore's Sentosa, a resort island with luxury hotels, a casino, manmade beaches and a Universal Studios theme park. But, with cameras of the world's press trained on them, they displayed an initial atmosphere of bonhomie as they met on the verandah of the Capella, a refurbished 19th century British regimental officers' mess. After a handshake, they were soon smiling and holding each other by the arm, before Trump guided Kim to the library where they held a meeting with only their interpreters. Trump had said on Saturday he would know within a minute of meeting Kim whether he would reach a deal. MARKETS RISE Inside, they sat alongside each other against a backdrop of North Korean and U.S. flags, with Kim beaming broadly as the U.S. president gave him a thumbs up. The combatants of the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce. After initial exchanges lasting around 40 minutes, Trump and Kim emerged, walking side-by-side through the colonnaded hotel before entering a meeting room, where they were joined by their most senior officials. Kim was heard telling Trump through a translator: "I think the entire world is watching this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a fantasy...science fiction movie." Asked by a reporter how the meeting was going, Trump said: "Very good. Very, very good. Good relationship." Kim also sounded positive about the prospects of peace. "We overcame all kinds of scepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good for the peace," he said. "I believe this is a good prelude for peace." The dollar jumped to a 3-week top on Tuesday and Asian shares rose on the news. Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the expanded talks, while Kim's team included former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party. As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels, and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled. Body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met, but also displayed signs of nerves. After the meetings, the two teams and other senior officials met for a working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and "Daegu Jormin", or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according to the menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and vanilla ice cream for dessert. The North Korean leader's sister and close confidante Kim Yo Jong was among the lunch party. As the cameras captured the moment, Trump quipped: "Very nice. Getting a good picture everyone, so we all look nice and handsome and thin...perfect". In the hours before the summit began, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, while Pompeo injected a note of caution whether Kim would prove to be sincere about his willingness to denuclearise. Pompeo said the summit should set the framework for "the hard work that will follow", insisting that North Korea had to move toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. North Korea, however, has shown little appetite for surrendering nuclear weapons it considers vital to the survival of Kim's dynastic rule. Sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until that happened, Pompeo said on Monday. "If diplomacy does not move in the right direction ... those measures will increase." The White House said later that discussions with North Korea had moved "more quickly than expected" and Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night after the summit, rather than Wednesday, as scheduled earlier. Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit has said. Trump spoke to Moon and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, both key allies of Washington in the region, to discuss developments ahead of the summit. "I too, got little sleep last night," Moon told his cabinet in Seoul as the summit began in Singapore. "I truly hope it will be a successful summit that will open a new age for the two Koreas and the United States and bring us complete denuclearisation and peace."

Trump says Kim 'very smart', North Korea to denuclearise 'very, very quickly'

Much attention has been&nbspon Kim Jong Un at his historic summit Tuesday with President Donald Trump. The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister.&nbsp

Kim's entourage includes Kim Jong Chol, 72, who is the North Korean leaders most trusted policy advisor and his "right-hand man" since the beginning of a peace offensive with the US and South Korea in January.&nbsp

He accompanied the young leader at all four of his recent summits, twice with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Recently, Kim Jong Un sent him to the United States to hand-deliver a letter to Trump, making him North Korea’s most senior official to visit its wartime foe in 18 years.

Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jung also accompanied the leader. She is the Workers’ Party official responsible for propaganda affairs. Many outside experts believe she has already become the No. 2 official in a country that has been ruled by the Kim family for seven decades. She acts as her older brother’s assistant at times, having hand-delivered a letter from him to South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

She reportedly traveled to Singapore separately from her brother amid media speculation that the North’s top two officials intentionally take different planes in case of an accident.

Kim's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who was also present at the meeting, is the highest-level female diplomat in North Korea. She previously worked as an English-language interpreter for a North Korean delegation attending now-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.

She has reportedly acted as a lead negotiator in advance meetings with the American team ahead of the summit, possibly because of her experience as a nuclear negotiator in the past.

Last month, her threat to scuttle the summit and description of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” prompted Trump to pull out of his meeting with Kim, although he quickly reversed his decision.&nbsp

Also present at the historic summit was Ri Su Yong, 78, is the top Workers’ Party official for international affairs. The former foreign minister was North Korea’s ambassador to Switzerland when Kim Jong Un studied there as a teenager.

Kim also had Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, 61, by his side. He is a career diplomat who served as the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party nuclear talks.

Hyon Song Wol also accompanied the leader at the Singapore summit. He is head of North Korea’s hugely popular Moranbong girl band, whose members were hand-picked by Kim Jong Un. She also led a large North Korean art troupe sent to South Korea during the February Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Her earlier trip to South Korea in January triggered a media frenzy.

Also present today was Kim Sung Hae who is a departmental director at North Korea’s United Front Department, the Workers’ Party organization that handles inter-Korean relations. She also attended Monday’s meeting at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

No Kwang Chol, who accompanied the leader, is North Korea’s minister of the People’s Armed Forces. His appointment to one of the top military jobs was officially confirmed by a state media dispatch on Monday that included him in a list of officials traveling with Kim. 
&nbsp

The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister

Much attention has been&nbspon Kim Jong Un at his historic summit Tuesday with President Donald Trump. The young leader was also accompanied by a group of trusted and loyal lieutenants to Singapore with at least four high-powered women including his sister. Kim's entourage includes Kim Jong Chol, 72, who is the North Korean leaders most trusted policy advisor and his "right-hand man" since the beginning of a peace offensive with the US and South Korea in January. He accompanied the young leader at all four of his recent summits, twice with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Recently, Kim Jong Un sent him to the United States to hand-deliver a letter to Trump, making him North Korea’s most senior official to visit its wartime foe in 18 years. Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jung also accompanied the leader. She is the Workers’ Party official responsible for propaganda affairs. Many outside experts believe she has already become the No. 2 official in a country that has been ruled by the Kim family for seven decades. She acts as her older brother’s assistant at times, having hand-delivered a letter from him to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. She reportedly traveled to Singapore separately from her brother amid media speculation that the North’s top two officials intentionally take different planes in case of an accident. Kim's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who was also present at the meeting, is the highest-level female diplomat in North Korea. She previously worked as an English-language interpreter for a North Korean delegation attending now-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. She has reportedly acted as a lead negotiator in advance meetings with the American team ahead of the summit, possibly because of her experience as a nuclear negotiator in the past. Last month, her threat to scuttle the summit and description of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” prompted Trump to pull out of his meeting with Kim, although he quickly reversed his decision. Also present at the historic summit was Ri Su Yong, 78, is the top Workers’ Party official for international affairs. The former foreign minister was North Korea’s ambassador to Switzerland when Kim Jong Un studied there as a teenager. Kim also had Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, 61, by his side. He is a career diplomat who served as the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party nuclear talks. Hyon Song Wol also accompanied the leader at the Singapore summit. He is head of North Korea’s hugely popular Moranbong girl band, whose members were hand-picked by Kim Jong Un. She also led a large North Korean art troupe sent to South Korea during the February Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Her earlier trip to South Korea in January triggered a media frenzy. Also present today was Kim Sung Hae who is a departmental director at North Korea’s United Front Department, the Workers’ Party organization that handles inter-Korean relations. She also attended Monday’s meeting at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. No Kwang Chol, who accompanied the leader, is North Korea’s minister of the People’s Armed Forces. His appointment to one of the top military jobs was officially confirmed by a state media dispatch on Monday that included him in a list of officials traveling with Kim.

Kim Jong-Un was accompanied by trusted lieutenants to Singapore

As US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un potential denuclearisation, this is what the leaders, as well as the media and journalists, will be eating during the historic summit in Singapore.&nbsp

Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavors of East and West.&nbsp&nbsp

Starters 
1. Traditional prawn cocktail with avocado salad&nbsp 
2. Green mango kerabu with honey lime dressing and fresh octopus&nbsp 
3. "Oiseon" which is a Korean stuffed cucumber&nbsp

Main Course 
1. Beef short rib confit, with potato dauphinois and steam broccolini with red wine sauce on the side 
2. Combination of sweet and sour crispy pork and Yangzhou fried rice with homemade XO chili sauce&nbsp 
3. "Daegu jorim" which is a soy braised cod fish with radish and Asian vegetables&nbsp

Desserts 
1. Dark chocolate tartlet ganache&nbsp 
2. Haagen-Dazs vanilla iced cream with cherry coulis&nbsp 
3. Tropezienne&nbsp

Meanwhile, popular Indian dishes including other varieties will be served to nearly 3,000 journalists from across the world who are here to cover the historic summit with a menu that will offer 45 dishes across 15 cuisines to suit all palates, the Strait Times reported.

On offer will be Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, American, Italian, English, Australian, Brazilian and Middle Eastern food.

Indian dishes like Pulao, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry and Papad will be served at the F1 Pit Building - the official media centre for the summit - in downtown Singapore.

There are quintessential Singaporean dishes, such as laksa and chicken rice which will be served hot at manned stations. Several caterers have been roped in to help feed the journalists meals from breakfast to lunch, tea to dinner, the report said. &nbsp&nbsp

About 25 chefs per shift - there will be two shifts per day except on Wednesday - will be stationed at the media centre, the firm said.

Also, from “El Trumpo” and “Rocket Man” tacos to the “Bromance” cocktail, restaurants and bars in food-crazy Singapore are rolling out weird and wonderful creations to mark the approaching US-North Korea summit.

Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavours of East and West

As US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un potential denuclearisation, this is what the leaders, as well as the media and journalists, will be eating during the historic summit in Singapore. Lavish and luxurious menu for Kim and Trump will include dishes from the country as well as dishes combines the flavors of East and West. Starters 1. Traditional prawn cocktail with avocado salad 2. Green mango kerabu with honey lime dressing and fresh octopus 3. "Oiseon" which is a Korean stuffed cucumber Main Course 1. Beef short rib confit, with potato dauphinois and steam broccolini with red wine sauce on the side 2. Combination of sweet and sour crispy pork and Yangzhou fried rice with homemade XO chili sauce 3. "Daegu jorim" which is a soy braised cod fish with radish and Asian vegetables Desserts 1. Dark chocolate tartlet ganache 2. Haagen-Dazs vanilla iced cream with cherry coulis 3. Tropezienne Meanwhile, popular Indian dishes including other varieties will be served to nearly 3,000 journalists from across the world who are here to cover the historic summit with a menu that will offer 45 dishes across 15 cuisines to suit all palates, the Strait Times reported. On offer will be Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, American, Italian, English, Australian, Brazilian and Middle Eastern food. Indian dishes like Pulao, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry and Papad will be served at the F1 Pit Building - the official media centre for the summit - in downtown Singapore. There are quintessential Singaporean dishes, such as laksa and chicken rice which will be served hot at manned stations. Several caterers have been roped in to help feed the journalists meals from breakfast to lunch, tea to dinner, the report said. About 25 chefs per shift - there will be two shifts per day except on Wednesday - will be stationed at the media centre, the firm said. Also, from “El Trumpo” and “Rocket Man” tacos to the “Bromance” cocktail, restaurants and bars in food-crazy Singapore are rolling out weird and wonderful creations to mark the approaching US-North Korea summit.

This is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit

Trump and Kim concluded their first historic meeting — it really is, a sitting US President and a North Korean leader have never met before, not even spoken on the phone — today.&nbsp;

The one-on-one, along with translators, lasted about 48 minutes.&nbsp;

Reuters quoted a body language expert as saying Trump and Kim both sought to project a sense of command as they began their summit,&nbsp;

The body language expert said their handshake, which lasted over 10 seconds, showed both leaders seeking to take charge of their encounter. Trump spoke to Kim during the handshake, while the North Korean leader listened affirmatively.&nbsp;

"Their handshake seems to be between peers," Karen Leong, Managing Director of Singapore-headquartered Influence Solutions, said. "Trump seemed to be very aware of this, that he needed to up the stakes and be seen that he is the leader."&nbsp;

Trump arrived to the summit looking serious, and showed off the power-grab gestures most recently seen during the G7 summit this week. He patted the North Korean leader on the arm twice and also initiated a handshake while talking to the media about the "successful relationship".&nbsp;

Trump did most of the talking and Kim appeared to listen attentively, turning to him three times during their walk towards the library they were meeting in. But he also patted the US President's arm, in an attempt to show control over the encounter.

Trump, who is more than twice as old Kim who is reportedly 34, appeared to lead the way to the library, placing his hand on the North Korean leader's back.&nbsp;

But Leong said the two leaders found it tough to disguise their nervousness once they sat down to their meeting with Trump displaying a slanted smile and fidgeting with his hands, and Kim leaning and staring at the ground.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump had said he would be able to work out within the first minute whether his North Korean counterpart was serious about making peace.

"I think that very quickly I'll know that something good is going to happen," Trump said in Canada during the G7 meeting. "I also think I'll know if it's going to happen fast – it may not, but I'll know pretty quickly whether or not, in my opinion, something positive will happen."

The two leaders had, before their sudden thaw, been trading insults for months with economic sanctions on North Korea ramped up in response to its nuclear weapons programme.

A body language expert said the two leaders found it tough to disguise their nervousness once they sat down to their meeting with Trump displaying a slanted smile and fidgeting with his hands, and Kim leaning and staring at the ground

Trump and Kim concluded their first historic meeting — it really is, a sitting US President and a North Korean leader have never met before, not even spoken on the phone — today. The one-on-one, along with translators, lasted about 48 minutes. Reuters quoted a body language expert as saying Trump and Kim both sought to project a sense of command as they began their summit, The body language expert said their handshake, which lasted over 10 seconds, showed both leaders seeking to take charge of their encounter. Trump spoke to Kim during the handshake, while the North Korean leader listened affirmatively. "Their handshake seems to be between peers," Karen Leong, Managing Director of Singapore-headquartered Influence Solutions, said. "Trump seemed to be very aware of this, that he needed to up the stakes and be seen that he is the leader." Trump arrived to the summit looking serious, and showed off the power-grab gestures most recently seen during the G7 summit this week. He patted the North Korean leader on the arm twice and also initiated a handshake while talking to the media about the "successful relationship". Trump did most of the talking and Kim appeared to listen attentively, turning to him three times during their walk towards the library they were meeting in. But he also patted the US President's arm, in an attempt to show control over the encounter. Trump, who is more than twice as old Kim who is reportedly 34, appeared to lead the way to the library, placing his hand on the North Korean leader's back. But Leong said the two leaders found it tough to disguise their nervousness once they sat down to their meeting with Trump displaying a slanted smile and fidgeting with his hands, and Kim leaning and staring at the ground. Ahead of the meeting, Trump had said he would be able to work out within the first minute whether his North Korean counterpart was serious about making peace. "I think that very quickly I'll know that something good is going to happen," Trump said in Canada during the G7 meeting. "I also think I'll know if it's going to happen fast – it may not, but I'll know pretty quickly whether or not, in my opinion, something positive will happen." The two leaders had, before their sudden thaw, been trading insults for months with economic sanctions on North Korea ramped up in response to its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump and Kim's body language said both tried to show they were in control

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump said a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday had gone "better than anybody could have expected", and they would sign a document following talks on ways to end a nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula.

Kim stood silently alongside Trump as he spoke to media during a post-lunch stroll through the gardens of the Singapore hotel where the summit was held, but the North Korean leader had earlier described their meeting as a "a good prelude to peace".

Both men walked to Trump's limousine and looked in at the rear seat, with Trump apparently showing Kim something inside. They then resumed their walk.

"A lot of progress - really very positive. I think better than anybody could have expected. Top of the line, very good. We’re going now for a signing," Trump told journalists, without giving details on what would be signed.

Should they succeed in making a diplomatic breakthrough, it could bring lasting change to the security landscape of Northeast Asia, like the visit of former U.S. President Richard Nixon to China in 1972 led to the transformation of China.

Both men had looked serious as they got out of their limousines for the summit at the Capella hotel on Singapore's Sentosa, a resort island with luxury hotels, a casino, manmade beaches and a Universal Studios theme park.

But, with cameras of the world's press trained on them, they displayed an initial atmosphere of bonhomie as they met on the verandah of the Capella, a refurbished 19th century British regimental officers' mess.

After a handshake, they were soon smiling and holding each other by the arm, before Trump guided Kim to the library where they held a meeting with only their interpreters. Trump had said on Saturday he would know within a minute of meeting Kim whether he would reach a deal.

Inside, they sat alongside each other against a backdrop of North Korean and U.S. flags, with Kim beaming broadly as the U.S. president gave him a thumbs up.

The combatants of the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce.

After initial exchanges lasting around 40 minutes, Trump and Kim emerged, walking side-by-side through the colonnaded hotel before entering a meeting room, where they were joined by their most senior officials.

Kim was heard telling Trump through a translator: "I think the entire world is watching this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a fantasy...science fiction movie."

Asked by a reporter how the meeting was going, Trump said: "Very good. Very, very good. Good relationship."

Kim also sounded positive about the prospects.

"We overcame all kinds of scepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good for the peace," he said. "I believe this is a good prelude for peace."

Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the expanded talks, while Kim's team included former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party.

MARKETS CALM

As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels, and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled.

Financial markets were largely steady in Asia and did not show any noticeable reaction to the start of the summit. The dollar was at a three-week high and the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares was largely unchanged from Monday.

While Trump and Kim search each other’s eyes and words for signs of trust or deceit, the rest of the world will be watching, hoping that somehow these two unpredictable leaders can find a way to defuse one of the planet's most dangerous flashpoints.

Body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met, but also displayed signs of nerves.

After the meetings, the two teams and other senior officials met for a working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and "Daegu Jormin", or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according to the menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and vanilla ice cream for dessert. The North Korean leader's sister and close confidante Kim Yo Jong was among the lunch party.

As the cameras captured the moment, Trump quipped: "Very nice. Getting a good picture everyone, so we all look nice and handsome and thin...perfect".

In the hours before the summit began, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, while Pompeo injected a note of caution whether Kim would prove to be sincere about his willingness to denuclearise.

Pompeo said the summit should set the framework for "the hard work that will follow", insisting that North Korea had to move toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

North Korea, however, has shown little appetite for surrendering nuclear weapons it considers vital to the survival of Kim's dynastic rule.

Sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until that happened, Pompeo said on Monday. "If diplomacy does not move in the right direction ... those measures will increase."

The White House said later that discussions with North Korea had moved "more quickly than expected" and Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night after the summit, rather than Wednesday, as scheduled earlier.

Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit has said.

One of the world's most reclusive leaders, Kim visited Singapore's waterfront on Monday, smiling and waving to onlookers, adding to a more affable image that has emerged since his April summit with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in.

Trump spoke to Moon and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, both key allies of Washington in the region, to discuss developments ahead of the summit.

"I too, got little sleep last night," Moon told his cabinet in Seoul as the summit began in Singapore.

"I truly hope it will be a successful summit that will open a new age for the two Koreas and the United States and bring us complete denuclearisation and peace."

Trump added that he and Kim would sign a document following talks on ways to end a nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump said a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday had gone "better than anybody could have expected", and they would sign a document following talks on ways to end a nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula. Kim stood silently alongside Trump as he spoke to media during a post-lunch stroll through the gardens of the Singapore hotel where the summit was held, but the North Korean leader had earlier described their meeting as a "a good prelude to peace". Both men walked to Trump's limousine and looked in at the rear seat, with Trump apparently showing Kim something inside. They then resumed their walk. "A lot of progress - really very positive. I think better than anybody could have expected. Top of the line, very good. We’re going now for a signing," Trump told journalists, without giving details on what would be signed. Should they succeed in making a diplomatic breakthrough, it could bring lasting change to the security landscape of Northeast Asia, like the visit of former U.S. President Richard Nixon to China in 1972 led to the transformation of China. Both men had looked serious as they got out of their limousines for the summit at the Capella hotel on Singapore's Sentosa, a resort island with luxury hotels, a casino, manmade beaches and a Universal Studios theme park. But, with cameras of the world's press trained on them, they displayed an initial atmosphere of bonhomie as they met on the verandah of the Capella, a refurbished 19th century British regimental officers' mess. After a handshake, they were soon smiling and holding each other by the arm, before Trump guided Kim to the library where they held a meeting with only their interpreters. Trump had said on Saturday he would know within a minute of meeting Kim whether he would reach a deal. Inside, they sat alongside each other against a backdrop of North Korean and U.S. flags, with Kim beaming broadly as the U.S. president gave him a thumbs up. The combatants of the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce. After initial exchanges lasting around 40 minutes, Trump and Kim emerged, walking side-by-side through the colonnaded hotel before entering a meeting room, where they were joined by their most senior officials. Kim was heard telling Trump through a translator: "I think the entire world is watching this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a fantasy...science fiction movie." Asked by a reporter how the meeting was going, Trump said: "Very good. Very, very good. Good relationship." Kim also sounded positive about the prospects. "We overcame all kinds of scepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good for the peace," he said. "I believe this is a good prelude for peace." Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the expanded talks, while Kim's team included former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party. MARKETS CALM As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels, and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled. Financial markets were largely steady in Asia and did not show any noticeable reaction to the start of the summit. The dollar was at a three-week high and the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares was largely unchanged from Monday. While Trump and Kim search each other’s eyes and words for signs of trust or deceit, the rest of the world will be watching, hoping that somehow these two unpredictable leaders can find a way to defuse one of the planet's most dangerous flashpoints. Body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met, but also displayed signs of nerves. After the meetings, the two teams and other senior officials met for a working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and "Daegu Jormin", or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according to the menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and vanilla ice cream for dessert. The North Korean leader's sister and close confidante Kim Yo Jong was among the lunch party. As the cameras captured the moment, Trump quipped: "Very nice. Getting a good picture everyone, so we all look nice and handsome and thin...perfect". In the hours before the summit began, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, while Pompeo injected a note of caution whether Kim would prove to be sincere about his willingness to denuclearise. Pompeo said the summit should set the framework for "the hard work that will follow", insisting that North Korea had to move toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. North Korea, however, has shown little appetite for surrendering nuclear weapons it considers vital to the survival of Kim's dynastic rule. Sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until that happened, Pompeo said on Monday. "If diplomacy does not move in the right direction ... those measures will increase." The White House said later that discussions with North Korea had moved "more quickly than expected" and Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night after the summit, rather than Wednesday, as scheduled earlier. Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit has said. One of the world's most reclusive leaders, Kim visited Singapore's waterfront on Monday, smiling and waving to onlookers, adding to a more affable image that has emerged since his April summit with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in. Trump spoke to Moon and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, both key allies of Washington in the region, to discuss developments ahead of the summit. "I too, got little sleep last night," Moon told his cabinet in Seoul as the summit began in Singapore. "I truly hope it will be a successful summit that will open a new age for the two Koreas and the United States and bring us complete denuclearisation and peace."

Trump says summit with North Korea's Kim 'better than anybody expected'

As US President <a href="http://wionews.com/world/great-epoch-making-significance-says-north-koreas-ally-china-on-trump-kim-talks-143846">Trump successfully concluded </a>his summit with North Korean leader Kim on Tuesday, Ivanka Trump's tweet a day earlier baffled Internet users in China.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
“Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” -Chinese Proverb
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/1006160823360872448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Ivanka in a tweet said: “Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” -Chinese Proverb. However, Chinese Internet users could not figure out what it meant as it circulated on Weibo. Even though Twitter is banned in China but the screenshot of the post went viral on the Chinese Internet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
as a Chinese i gotta tell you that, Ivanka, there is no such proverb,here,in china. people on Weibo are talking about this tweet, For the love of President Trump, i'll let you know that the closest proverb to what you tweet is 'u can u up no can no bb'. you're welcome
— ニジョウ (@greednut) <a href="https://twitter.com/greednut/status/1006570435423551488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Several users said it is not a Chinese proverb, some were confused if Chinese philosopher Confucius said those words even as several users disagreed. Some thought Ivanka just made it up, others doubted the origin of the tweet as they scratched around to make sense of it.

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Ivanka totally confuses the Chinese population.<a href="https://t.co/EchN2jItpE">https://t.co/EchN2jItpE</a>
— Beverly Hall (@bevhallmezzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/bevhallmezzo/status/1006561963277783040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Ivanka's too intellectually lazy to properly identify/Google a real Chinese proverb to Tweet out of context for self-aggrandizing reasons i guess she can't be expected to be effective on any front, but still.
— Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) <a href="https://twitter.com/espiers/status/1006491950269259776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Users on China's Weibo are going nuts trying to reverse translate Ivanka's Chinese proverb tweet <a href="https://t.co/5skhZOtwW9">https://t.co/5skhZOtwW9</a>
— Megha Rajagopalan (@meghara) <a href="https://twitter.com/meghara/status/1006326770084208640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Some thought Ivanka just made it up, others doubted the origin of the tweet

As US President Trump successfully concluded his summit with North Korean leader Kim on Tuesday, Ivanka Trump's tweet a day earlier baffled Internet users in China. “Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” -Chinese Proverb — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 11, 2018 × Ivanka in a tweet said: “Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” -Chinese Proverb. However, Chinese Internet users could not figure out what it meant as it circulated on Weibo. Even though Twitter is banned in China but the screenshot of the post went viral on the Chinese Internet. as a Chinese i gotta tell you that, Ivanka, there is no such proverb,here,in china. people on Weibo are talking about this tweet, For the love of President Trump, i'll let you know that the closest proverb to what you tweet is 'u can u up no can no bb'. you're welcome — ニジョウ (@greednut) June 12, 2018 × Several users said it is not a Chinese proverb, some were confused if Chinese philosopher Confucius said those words even as several users disagreed. Some thought Ivanka just made it up, others doubted the origin of the tweet as they scratched around to make sense of it. Ivanka totally confuses the Chinese population.https://t.co/EchN2jItpE — Beverly Hall (@bevhallmezzo) June 12, 2018 × Ivanka's too intellectually lazy to properly identify/Google a real Chinese proverb to Tweet out of context for self-aggrandizing reasons i guess she can't be expected to be effective on any front, but still. — Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) June 12, 2018 × Users on China's Weibo are going nuts trying to reverse translate Ivanka's Chinese proverb tweet https://t.co/5skhZOtwW9 — Megha Rajagopalan (@meghara) June 12, 2018 ×

Chinese proverb? Ivanka's tweet baffles China

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the international community to offer support on carrying out the agreement on steps toward denuclearization between the United States and North Korea.

"Implementing today's and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community,” UN&nbsp;spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.&nbsp;

Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader.

President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China".

China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role".

Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday.

"Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said.

Iran, on the other hand, warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with US President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported.&nbsp;

India called summit a "positive development" and welcomed the event. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the international community to offer support on carrying out the agreement on steps toward denuclearization between the United States and North Korea. "Implementing today's and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader. President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China". China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role". Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday. "Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said. Iran, on the other hand, warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with US President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported. India called summit a "positive development" and welcomed the event. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read. (With inputs from agencies)

UN chief urges support for US-North Korea agreement

India on Tuesday welcomed the historic summit that took place between United States President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read.

The MEA statement added, "We also hope that the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue will take into account and address our concerns about proliferation linkages extending to India`s neighbourhood."

The meeting came after months of deliberations between two countries over the time and venue of the summit. Both the leaders signed a joint agreement, according to which Kim committed to&nbsp;'complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula', as per media reports.

Prior to the signing of the comprehensive document, both the leaders had a working lunch and walked around Capella, where they held a bilateral meeting in the morning. Despite Kim threatening to call off the summit talks following the 'Max military drills'&nbsp;and Trump announcing to call off the event, citing "tremendous anger and open hostility" from North Korea as the reason, the historic summit finally culminated successfully.

Trump has departed for the US from Singapore's Paya Lebar Airbase aboard Air Force One, after holding talks with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. He's headed back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, with brief stops in Guam and Hawaii first, CNN reported. Trump's departure followed the press conference that the US president addressed after the summit.

The meeting came after months of deliberations between two countries over the time and venue of the summit

India on Tuesday welcomed the historic summit that took place between United States President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read. The MEA statement added, "We also hope that the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue will take into account and address our concerns about proliferation linkages extending to India`s neighbourhood." The meeting came after months of deliberations between two countries over the time and venue of the summit. Both the leaders signed a joint agreement, according to which Kim committed to 'complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula', as per media reports. Prior to the signing of the comprehensive document, both the leaders had a working lunch and walked around Capella, where they held a bilateral meeting in the morning. Despite Kim threatening to call off the summit talks following the 'Max military drills' and Trump announcing to call off the event, citing "tremendous anger and open hostility" from North Korea as the reason, the historic summit finally culminated successfully. Trump has departed for the US from Singapore's Paya Lebar Airbase aboard Air Force One, after holding talks with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. He's headed back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, with brief stops in Guam and Hawaii first, CNN reported. Trump's departure followed the press conference that the US president addressed after the summit.

This is positive development: India welcomes Trump-Kim Summit

After successfully concluding his talks with North Korea, President Trump said the <a href="http://wionews.com/world/great-epoch-making-significance-says-north-koreas-ally-china-on-trump-kim-talks-143846">deal with Kim was a "great thing for China"</a>.

"Making a deal is<a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-has-dropped-war-games-in-korean-peninsula-ready-to-change-the-world-says-trump-after-meeting-kim-143832"> a great thing for the world, it's </a>also a great thing for China, I can't imagine that China is happy with someone having nuclear weapons so close, so China is very happy," Trump told reporters in Singapore.&nbsp

China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role".

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/this-is-what-kim-jong-un-and-donald-trump-ate-at-the-singapore-summit--143783">Also Read:&nbspThis is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit</a>

Trump said he would call Xi, probably before he lands in Washington on his way back from Singapore, to tell him about the results of the meeting. He said he would be including Beijing in follow-up discussions.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after the successful completion of Trump-Kim talks in Singapore on Tuesday.

"The summit held in Singapore was an important milestone in the advancement of sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Guterres said in a statement.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader.

Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim.

Guterres urged the leaders to "seize this momentous opportunity" and offered UN help to achieve North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme as promised by Kim during his meeting with President Trump.

One of the key UN permanent members Russia said that the mere fact that the meeting took place was a "positive step". Japanese PM Shinzo Abe too welcomed the Trump-Kim summit calling it a "first step" towards denuclearisation.

"Through this US-North Korea summit, Chairman Kim Jong Un's intent for complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was confirmed in writing," Abe said.&nbsp

"I support this as a first step to the comprehensive resolution of issues concerning North Korea," the Japanese PM added.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eGm2GmFr4bA" width="560"></iframe>

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula

After successfully concluding his talks with North Korea, President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China". "Making a deal is a great thing for the world, it's also a great thing for China, I can't imagine that China is happy with someone having nuclear weapons so close, so China is very happy," Trump told reporters in Singapore. China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role". Also Read:&nbspThis is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit Trump said he would call Xi, probably before he lands in Washington on his way back from Singapore, to tell him about the results of the meeting. He said he would be including Beijing in follow-up discussions. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after the successful completion of Trump-Kim talks in Singapore on Tuesday. "The summit held in Singapore was an important milestone in the advancement of sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Guterres said in a statement. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader. Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim. Guterres urged the leaders to "seize this momentous opportunity" and offered UN help to achieve North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme as promised by Kim during his meeting with President Trump. One of the key UN permanent members Russia said that the mere fact that the meeting took place was a "positive step". Japanese PM Shinzo Abe too welcomed the Trump-Kim summit calling it a "first step" towards denuclearisation. "Through this US-North Korea summit, Chairman Kim Jong Un's intent for complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was confirmed in writing," Abe said. "I support this as a first step to the comprehensive resolution of issues concerning North Korea," the Japanese PM added.

Deal with North Korea great for the world, also for China, says Trump

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-has-dropped-war-games-in-korean-peninsula-ready-to-change-the-world-says-trump-after-meeting-kim-143832">'</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-has-dropped-war-games-in-korean-peninsula-ready-to-change-the-world-says-trump-after-meeting-kim-143832">US</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-has-dropped-war-games-in-korean-peninsula-ready-to-change-the-world-says-trump-after-meeting-kim-143832"> has dropped war games in Korean Peninsula, ready to change the world,' says Trump after meeting Kim</a>

US President Trump praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un calling him "very talented" and a "special person" as he addressed a press conference after an exhilarating day of high-level diplomacy on Tuesday.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/spiritual-leader-bhaiyyuji-maharaj-shoots-himself-dead-143835">Spiritual leader turned minister Bhaiyyuji Maharaj shoots self</a>

According to reports, self-styled guru and Hindu spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj allegedly shot himself today. He was rushed to Indore's Bombay Hospital where he was declared dead.&nbsp

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/facebook-launches-user-review-potential-bans-for-advertisers-143891">Facebook launches user review, potential bans for advertisers</a>

Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it would allow users to review businesses that advertise on the social network and possibly ban those that receive the most negative feedback.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/delhi-minister-begins-hunger-strike-as-cm-others-wait-to-meet-143853">'Dharna without reason' says L-G's office as Kejriwal continues sit-in</a>

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues, who spent the night at the lieutenant governor's office, today dug in their heels with Health Minister Satyendar Jain beginning an indefinite hunger strike to press for their demands.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-supreme-court-rejects-7-year-old-zainab-killers-appeal-143883">Pakistani Supreme court rejects 7-year-old Zainab killer's appeal</a>

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday rejected an appeal against the death sentence of a man convicted of raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl in the eastern city of Kasur, a crime which shocked the country at the beginning of the year and triggered protests in several cities nationwide.

&nbsp

'US has dropped war games in Korean Peninsula, ready to change the world,' says Trump after meeting Kim US President Trump praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un calling him "very talented" and a "special person" as he addressed a press conference after an exhilarating day of high-level diplomacy on Tuesday. Spiritual leader turned minister Bhaiyyuji Maharaj shoots self According to reports, self-styled guru and Hindu spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj allegedly shot himself today. He was rushed to Indore's Bombay Hospital where he was declared dead. Facebook launches user review, potential bans for advertisers Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it would allow users to review businesses that advertise on the social network and possibly ban those that receive the most negative feedback. 'Dharna without reason' says L-G's office as Kejriwal continues sit-in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues, who spent the night at the lieutenant governor's office, today dug in their heels with Health Minister Satyendar Jain beginning an indefinite hunger strike to press for their demands. Pakistani Supreme court rejects 7-year-old Zainab killer's appeal The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday rejected an appeal against the death sentence of a man convicted of raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl in the eastern city of Kasur, a crime which shocked the country at the beginning of the year and triggered protests in several cities nationwide.

By:&nbspLynn T. White III*

At President Donald Trump's summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, Kim may promise complete denuclearisation, but Trump should know this goal won't be achieved without progress toward Korean unification and increased contact between South and North Korea.

As a scholar of comparative politics and East Asian studies, I believe that two recent developments – not just one – demand new U.S. policy. So far, the world's attention has been on the first development: the fact that North Korea has nuclear weapons. Less attention has been paid to the second one: recent displays of pan-Korean patriotism.

Let me explain why this second development deserves more scrutiny.

Moving toward one Korea

Most South Koreans, remembering past Northern violence, welcomed April 27, 2018, "Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula." Signing it with Kim, President Moon Jae-in articulated the South’s interests – and raised his domestic popularity – while restraining the U.S. from an attack on the North.

Moon did this once before. On August 17, 2017, he announced a U.S. agreement not to take military action against the North without the South’s prior consent. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that policy on the same day.

This lessens the chance of conflict. But it also creates a danger for the U.S. If war erupts, Kim might now prefer to hit Americans at bases in Japan, rather than fellow Koreans.

Conventional weapons still a hazard

While these early moves toward stronger relations between the Koreas are a positive sign, the threat of the North's conventional artillery against Seoul remains. Protecting Seoul is a key requirement for South Korea's alliance with the United States.

Seoul has importance even for the North because it is the traditional capital of the whole peninsula. The Joseon dynasty ruled there for half a millennium. Until 1972, the North Korean constitution held that Seoul rather than Pyongyang was legally the capital of all Korea.

So the South has "Korea’s Berlin." Additionally, two-thirds of all Koreans live here and the South’s economy is 35 times larger than the North’s. Its air force and navy are stronger. From K-pop to electronics, the South has remarkable "soft power" too, while the North is addicted to the hard stuff. Pyongyang has multiple weapons of mass destruction.

And while the threat of combat exists, any action is unlikely. The costs of war, as distinct from rhetoric, are prohibitive. The South would suffer, as would the North if the U.S. attacked Kim’s nuclear facilities. He might retaliate by using his artillery against Seoul. National security adviser John Bolton and others in Washington neglect our Korean ally's interests when they focus solely on eliminating North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic capacity.

President Moon, like leaders in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, would prefer that Pyongyang implement "complete, verifiable, irreversible" denuclearisation.

But Kim believes that Korea's history of division by foreign powers gives him a right not to follow the usual rules.&nbspThis is more important to him than keeping promises. The fact is that Pyongyang has sporadically in past years committed to denuclearisation. It formally withdrew from the Nonproliferation Treaty only in 2003. The Kim dynasty, in other words, did not follow through on its commitment to shed nuclear weapons.

Total, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation is likely “a bridge too far” in the current context – Kim will not agree to it. In any case, complete verification depends on seeking violations, which is difficult in a dictatorial police state.

Complete denuclearisation will be a matter for the future. Demanding it now will not lead to peace on the peninsula or internationally. It is Korean politics, not just Washington politics, that will affect what happens in both the short and long term. Few guess that Kim will fully surrender his only serious power, no matter what he says.

First, more South-North contacts

Kim cannot restrict the appeal to the North of the South’s lifestyle and prosperity forever. South-North contacts will slowly weaken Kim. His unreliability, the factor that makes him dangerous to the U.S., will be tempered as these contacts with South Korea strengthen. He, together with Moon, has let the genie of patriotism out of the bottle, and I don’t think he’ll be able to put it back.

Others have argued that a united Korea is a bigger threat to the U.S., but as I see it, progress toward Korean reunification would reduce the threat to America. A unified Korea would be safer for the U.S. than Pyongyang now is as an isolated nuclear power.

Northern elites cannot maintain their patriotic pretenses without talking about reunification, even though some there, as in the South, do not want it any time soon. Regime change will eventually come to the North. South Koreans know that more contacts with the North can raise their taxes, even as peace raises their security and reunites divided families.

Trump might willingly be persuaded to accept Kim’s claims about denuclearisation, for the sake of advertising the best "deal" he can get. This would likely only slow Pyongyang's program – not end it anytime soon. Negotiations would take multiple meetings, not just one "summit." A period of South-North links should follow, according to protocols the Panmunjom Declaration has established.

Trump may sooner or later turn down a "denuclearisation-without-sure-verification" deal, but in my opinion it is the best available for the U.S. and our allies.

If a future unified Korea emerges, it will still be surrounded by larger and more powerful China, Japan and Russia. And it could want good relations with the strong-but-more-distant U.S.

Rather than dividing the Koreans’ country, America should encourage them to re-create it.

(Lynn T. White III is Professor Emeritus and current Senior Research Scholar in the Woodrow Wilson School, Politics Department, and East Asian Studies Program of Princeton University.)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

At President Donald Trump's summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, Kim may promise complete denuclearisation, but Trump should know this goal won't be achieved without progress toward Korean unification and increased contact between South and North Korea

By: Lynn T. White III* At President Donald Trump's summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, Kim may promise complete denuclearisation, but Trump should know this goal won't be achieved without progress toward Korean unification and increased contact between South and North Korea. As a scholar of comparative politics and East Asian studies, I believe that two recent developments – not just one – demand new U.S. policy. So far, the world's attention has been on the first development: the fact that North Korea has nuclear weapons. Less attention has been paid to the second one: recent displays of pan-Korean patriotism. Let me explain why this second development deserves more scrutiny. Moving toward one Korea Most South Koreans, remembering past Northern violence, welcomed April 27, 2018, "Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula." Signing it with Kim, President Moon Jae-in articulated the South’s interests – and raised his domestic popularity – while restraining the U.S. from an attack on the North. Moon did this once before. On August 17, 2017, he announced a U.S. agreement not to take military action against the North without the South’s prior consent. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that policy on the same day. This lessens the chance of conflict. But it also creates a danger for the U.S. If war erupts, Kim might now prefer to hit Americans at bases in Japan, rather than fellow Koreans. Conventional weapons still a hazard While these early moves toward stronger relations between the Koreas are a positive sign, the threat of the North's conventional artillery against Seoul remains. Protecting Seoul is a key requirement for South Korea's alliance with the United States. Seoul has importance even for the North because it is the traditional capital of the whole peninsula. The Joseon dynasty ruled there for half a millennium. Until 1972, the North Korean constitution held that Seoul rather than Pyongyang was legally the capital of all Korea. So the South has "Korea’s Berlin." Additionally, two-thirds of all Koreans live here and the South’s economy is 35 times larger than the North’s. Its air force and navy are stronger. From K-pop to electronics, the South has remarkable "soft power" too, while the North is addicted to the hard stuff. Pyongyang has multiple weapons of mass destruction. And while the threat of combat exists, any action is unlikely. The costs of war, as distinct from rhetoric, are prohibitive. The South would suffer, as would the North if the U.S. attacked Kim’s nuclear facilities. He might retaliate by using his artillery against Seoul. National security adviser John Bolton and others in Washington neglect our Korean ally's interests when they focus solely on eliminating North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic capacity. President Moon, like leaders in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, would prefer that Pyongyang implement "complete, verifiable, irreversible" denuclearisation. But Kim believes that Korea's history of division by foreign powers gives him a right not to follow the usual rules.&nbspThis is more important to him than keeping promises. The fact is that Pyongyang has sporadically in past years committed to denuclearisation. It formally withdrew from the Nonproliferation Treaty only in 2003. The Kim dynasty, in other words, did not follow through on its commitment to shed nuclear weapons. Total, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation is likely “a bridge too far” in the current context – Kim will not agree to it. In any case, complete verification depends on seeking violations, which is difficult in a dictatorial police state. Complete denuclearisation will be a matter for the future. Demanding it now will not lead to peace on the peninsula or internationally. It is Korean politics, not just Washington politics, that will affect what happens in both the short and long term. Few guess that Kim will fully surrender his only serious power, no matter what he says. First, more South-North contacts Kim cannot restrict the appeal to the North of the South’s lifestyle and prosperity forever. South-North contacts will slowly weaken Kim. His unreliability, the factor that makes him dangerous to the U.S., will be tempered as these contacts with South Korea strengthen. He, together with Moon, has let the genie of patriotism out of the bottle, and I don’t think he’ll be able to put it back. Others have argued that a united Korea is a bigger threat to the U.S., but as I see it, progress toward Korean reunification would reduce the threat to America. A unified Korea would be safer for the U.S. than Pyongyang now is as an isolated nuclear power. Northern elites cannot maintain their patriotic pretenses without talking about reunification, even though some there, as in the South, do not want it any time soon. Regime change will eventually come to the North. South Koreans know that more contacts with the North can raise their taxes, even as peace raises their security and reunites divided families. Trump might willingly be persuaded to accept Kim’s claims about denuclearisation, for the sake of advertising the best "deal" he can get. This would likely only slow Pyongyang's program – not end it anytime soon. Negotiations would take multiple meetings, not just one "summit." A period of South-North links should follow, according to protocols the Panmunjom Declaration has established. Trump may sooner or later turn down a "denuclearisation-without-sure-verification" deal, but in my opinion it is the best available for the U.S. and our allies. If a future unified Korea emerges, it will still be surrounded by larger and more powerful China, Japan and Russia. And it could want good relations with the strong-but-more-distant U.S. Rather than dividing the Koreans’ country, America should encourage them to re-create it. (Lynn T. White III is Professor Emeritus and current Senior Research Scholar in the Woodrow Wilson School, Politics Department, and East Asian Studies Program of Princeton University.) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Memo to President Trump on meeting with Kim Jong-un

The UN&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;watchdog&nbsp;welcomed the joint statement of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong&nbsp;Un&nbsp;on Tuesday and said it was prepared to undertake verification activities.

Trump and Kim pledged to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and Washington committed to provide security guarantees.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency stands&nbsp;ready&nbsp;to&nbsp;undertake any verification activities in the DPRK (North Korea) that it may be requested to conduct by the countries concerned, subject to authorization by the IAEA’s Board of Governors," Director General Yukiya Amano said in a statement.

Trump and Kim pledged to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and Washington committed to provide security guarantees.

The UN nuclear watchdog welcomed the joint statement of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday and said it was prepared to undertake verification activities. Trump and Kim pledged to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and Washington committed to provide security guarantees. "The International Atomic Energy Agency stands ready to undertake any verification activities in the DPRK (North Korea) that it may be requested to conduct by the countries concerned, subject to authorization by the IAEA’s Board of Governors," Director General Yukiya Amano said in a statement.

UN nuclear watchdog says ready to help North Korea denuclearisation

Iran's spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht has warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported.&nbsp

Meanwhile, Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday.

"Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp

Meanwhile, Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Iran's spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht has warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday. "Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Iran warns North Korea on deal with United States: Report

Gold&nbsp;prices remained&nbsp;locked&nbsp;just&nbsp;below&nbsp;$1,300 an ounce on Tuesday as investors waited for clues on the pace of US&nbsp;interest rate rises from a&nbsp;Federal Reserve&nbsp;meeting this week.

A&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;statement and press conference expected from 1800 GMT on Wednesday could push&nbsp;gold out of the tight range of around $1,290-$1,305 in which it has been trapped since mid-May.

Gold&nbsp;is highly sensitive to interest rates because higher rates push up bond yields, making non-yielding&nbsp;gold&nbsp;less attractive, and tend to strengthen the dollar, increasing the cost of&nbsp;gold&nbsp;for buyers using other currencies.

Investors expect the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;to increase rates on Wednesday but will be looking for hints at future policy. A more aggressive stance on monetary tightening would hurt&nbsp;gold.

"We are waiting for the FOMC," said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen, referring to the&nbsp;Fed's policy committee.

Gold&nbsp;prices have tended to fall ahead of previous rate rises but recover afterwards, he said. "We're still erring towards the potential for a move higher here."

Spot&nbsp;gold&nbsp;was down 0.1 per cent at $1,298.15 an ounce at 1021 GMT, while US gold&nbsp;futures for August delivery were 0.1 per cent lower at $1,302 an ounce.

The dollar and US&nbsp;bond yields were also largely flat.

Adding to the wait-and-see mood for&nbsp;gold&nbsp;were expectations that the European Central Bank will signal a winding down of its vast bond-buying programme at a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;on Thursday. This would likely help&nbsp;gold&nbsp;by boosting the euro and weakening the dollar.

Japan's central bank will also meet on June 14-15.

Gold&nbsp;did not react strongly to a pledge by the leaders of the United States and North Korea to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The joint statement signed at the end of a summit in Singapore gave few details on how this goal would be achieved.

Gold&nbsp;is traditionally used as a safe place to invest money during times of uncertainty, and growing tensions over Korea have added to demand.

In other precious metals, silver was down 0.2 per cent at $16.86 an ounce after hitting a seven-week high of $16.95 on Monday.

Platinum was 0.2 per cent higher at $905.80 an ounce and palladium was down 0.3 per cent at $1,019 an ounce.

A Fed statement and press conference expected from 1800 GMT on Wednesday could push gold out of the tight range of around $1,290-$1,305 in which it has been trapped since mid-May

Gold prices remained locked just below $1,300 an ounce on Tuesday as investors waited for clues on the pace of US interest rate rises from a Federal Reserve meeting this week. A Fed statement and press conference expected from 1800 GMT on Wednesday could push gold out of the tight range of around $1,290-$1,305 in which it has been trapped since mid-May. Gold is highly sensitive to interest rates because higher rates push up bond yields, making non-yielding gold less attractive, and tend to strengthen the dollar, increasing the cost of gold for buyers using other currencies. Investors expect the Fed to increase rates on Wednesday but will be looking for hints at future policy. A more aggressive stance on monetary tightening would hurt gold. "We are waiting for the FOMC," said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen, referring to the Fed's policy committee. Gold prices have tended to fall ahead of previous rate rises but recover afterwards, he said. "We're still erring towards the potential for a move higher here." Spot gold was down 0.1 per cent at $1,298.15 an ounce at 1021 GMT, while US gold futures for August delivery were 0.1 per cent lower at $1,302 an ounce. The dollar and US bond yields were also largely flat. Adding to the wait-and-see mood for gold were expectations that the European Central Bank will signal a winding down of its vast bond-buying programme at a meeting on Thursday. This would likely help gold by boosting the euro and weakening the dollar. Japan's central bank will also meet on June 14-15. Gold did not react strongly to a pledge by the leaders of the United States and North Korea to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. The joint statement signed at the end of a summit in Singapore gave few details on how this goal would be achieved. Gold is traditionally used as a safe place to invest money during times of uncertainty, and growing tensions over Korea have added to demand. In other precious metals, silver was down 0.2 per cent at $16.86 an ounce after hitting a seven-week high of $16.95 on Monday. Platinum was 0.2 per cent higher at $905.80 an ounce and palladium was down 0.3 per cent at $1,019 an ounce.

Gold locked below $1,300 as market braces for Federal Reserve meeting

Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday.

"Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said.

Russia is ready to assist in implementing the deal - to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula - and hopes to settle the nuclear crisis will unblock normal economic cooperation, RIA news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

He also said Moscow hoped that six-party talks - a negotiation format involving the two Koreas, the United States, Russia, Japan and China - will at some point become relevant again, according to TASS.

Russia is ready to assist in implementing the deal - to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula

Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday. "Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said. Russia is ready to assist in implementing the deal - to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula - and hopes to settle the nuclear crisis will unblock normal economic cooperation, RIA news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. He also said Moscow hoped that six-party talks - a negotiation format involving the two Koreas, the United States, Russia, Japan and China - will at some point become relevant again, according to TASS.

Russia ready to help implement North Korea deal

north-korea

North Korea, News on North Korea, stories on North Korea, articles on North Korea, North Korea stories at Wion, North Korea news, North Korea latest news

north korea

News brief: Big stories of the day

Russia says UN should consider sanctions relief for North Korea

After Kim-Trump summit, Pompeo in Seoul to meet foreign ministers from Japan and South Korea

Kim invites Trump to visit Pyongyang as North hails 'radical switchover'

After US-North Korea summit, PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif asks India to follow suit

News brief: Big stories of the day

US student's death not in vain, helped lead to North Korean summit: Trump

News brief: Read big stories of the day

China urges perseverance, patience from all parties over Korean Peninsula

'North Korea no longer a nuclear threat,' says Trump

North Korea highlights Trump concessions on war games after summit

Kremlin says Trump-Kim summit proves Putin was right about North Korea

France alarmed after Trump 'practically hugged' Kim: Minister

Now, China backs Trump's decision to stop war games on Korean Peninsula

'We got along from the beginning,' Trump says of Kim. Commentators say Trump got outfoxed

North Korea state media plasters front pages with leader's Singapore trip

Trump says Kim 'very smart', North Korea to denuclearise 'very, very quickly'

Kim Jong-Un was accompanied by trusted lieutenants to Singapore

This is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit

Trump and Kim's body language said both tried to show they were in control

Trump says summit with North Korea's Kim 'better than anybody expected'

Chinese proverb? Ivanka's tweet baffles China

UN chief urges support for US-North Korea agreement

This is positive development: India welcomes Trump-Kim Summit

Deal with North Korea great for the world, also for China, says Trump

News brief: Big stories of the day