Trump and Kim meet in Singapore

President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have held a historic summit in Singapore, the first meeting between a sitting American president and a North Korean leader.

The two men met on 12 June at a hotel on the island of Sentosa, shaking hands in front of a row of American and North Korean flags.

The agreement

At the end of the meeting, the two leaders signed a short joint statement. Kim committed to work towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, while Trump committed to provide security guarantees to North Korea.

The two countries also agreed to work towards lasting peace and to recover the remains of soldiers missing from the Korean War.

Military exercises

At a press conference after the summit, Trump announced that the United States would stop its joint military exercises with South Korea, which he described as provocative. The announcement surprised South Korea and some American officials.

Critics

Critics say the statement contains no details about how or when North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons, and no way of checking. North Korea has made similar promises in the past and broken them.

Supporters say the summit has reduced the risk of war after a year of rising tensions, during which North Korea tested nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, and the two leaders exchanged insults and threats.

A dramatic change

Last year, Trump called Kim "Little Rocket Man" and threatened North Korea with "fire and fury". Kim called Trump a "dotard". Since then, relations have improved rapidly, helped by South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, who met Kim in April.

North Korea

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world. Kim has ruled since 2011, when he succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il. The country faces tough international sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Reaction

The British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, welcomed the summit as a step forward but said North Korea must take concrete steps to give up its nuclear weapons.

China, North Korea's main ally, welcomed the meeting. Japan said it hoped the summit would lead to real progress.

Trump said he had developed a very special bond with Kim, and that he would invite him to the White House.