Trump, Kim sign joint statement; US President describes bond with North Korea as 'special'

Trump said this after signing a joint statement with Kim at the US-North Korea Summit, which was held in Singapore on Tuesday.

Addressing a joint press conference, Trump said: "We developed a very special bond."

Kim on Tuesday assured that the denuclearisation process will begin soon.

During the brief media interaction, Kim said: "The world will see a major change."

Trump, on the other hand, was found praising the US' new friendly ties with North Korea.

Hinting at change in bitter past relationship between the two nations, the US President said: "I am proud of what took place today. Our relationship will be very much different than what we had in the past."

"People will be very happy" Trump added.

The two leaders had a one-to-one meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting took place between the two leaders after months of negotiations and dilemma.

This was for the first time that a sitting US president has ever met a North Korean leader.

Fresh development in the relationship between North Korea, South Korea and the US began recently when a North Korea  delegation was invited to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

2017 witnessed US President Donald Trump slamming North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the Asian nation continued to conduct several of its missile tests, teasing world peace and tranquillity and often threatening to trigger a war.

Situation became far tensed when North Korea tested an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that the nation said was capable of striking US mainland.

The United Nations Security Council imposed strong new sanctions against the Asian nation after its Nov 29 launch of a nuclear-capable weapon.

Trump and North Korea continued to exchange barbs earlier this year too.

Diplomatic timeline

Last year, as North Korea carried out further nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests, since conducting its first nuclear test in 2006, the UN Security Council adopted several resolutions condemning the launches and toughening sanctions against DPRK.

3 September, 2017: DPRK conducts its sixth nuclear test.

11 September 2017: The UN Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution imposing fresh sanctions on DPRK, targeting the country's oil imports, and textile exports.

13 November, 2017: The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Member States to observe the ‘Olympic Truce’ throughout the 2018 Winter Games in the Republic of Korea, and expressed its expectation that “Pyeongchang 2018 will be a meaningful opportunity to foster an atmosphere of peace, development, tolerance and understanding on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia”.

14 September, 2017:  Ballistic missile from DPRK flies over Japan - Security Council press statement condemns launches citing "outrageous actions" and demanding North Korea complies with UN resolutions to halt nuclear programme.

5-8 December, 2017:  The then head of the UN’s Department of Political Affairs travelled to North Korea for talks with senior officials.  Jeffrey Feltman said he had stressed the international community’s commitment to a peaceful political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking to reporters after returning to New York, he described the visit as “the most important mission I’ve ever undertaken,” adding that “we’ve left the door ajar, and I fervently hope that the door to a negotiated solution will now be opened wide.”

15 December, 2017: Council holds ministerial-level meeting on "Threats and Challenges posed the by the DPRK to International Peace and Security".

9 January, 2018: North and South Korean officials meet and agree the north will send athletes and delegates to the upcoming Winter Olympics across the border in Pyeongchang.

9 February, 2018: South and North march together during the opening of the Olympics. Secretary-General Guterres, who attended the Games, said that though the Olympic tradition of peace and cooperation was a global one, it had special resonance on the Korean Peninsula.

27 April, 2018: DPRK leader Kim Jong-un holds historic summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea, on the border between the two countries, after the North says it has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests, and plans to close its nuclear test sites.

May 10, 2018: President Trump first announces his intention to meet the North Korean leader, on June 12.

Image: twitter.com/Scavino45