Trump-Kim Summit

Mr Trump flew in aboard Air Force One, a few hours earlier Kim Jong-un touched down on an Air China 747 which normally carries the Chinese president.

An IIyushin transport plane carrying Mr Kim’s armoured limousine, then Mr Kim’s personal jet, a Soviet-era IIyushin 62. Mr Trump went to the Shangri La hotel for about half a mile from Mr Kim’s five star St Regis hotel.

Mr Trump’s first year in office was marred by bitter exchanges with Mr Kim as North Korea conducted several ballistic missile tests in defiance of international warnings.

Mr Trump referred Mr Kim as “little rocket man”, and vowed to unleash “fire and fury” if Pyongyang kept threatening the US. Mr Kim called Trump “mentally deranged” and a “dotard”.

Mr Kim remained defiant and carried out its sixth nuclear test in September 2017. After achieving his country’s mission of becoming a nuclear state, with missiles that could reach the US, North Korea began attempts to improve relations with South Korea by sending a team and delegates to the winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. In March 2018, Mr Trump surprised the world by accepting an invitation from Mr Kim delivered via Seoul – to meet in person.

Mr Trump at one point calling off completely, only after more diplomatic scrambling the two leaders will now sit down together. Singapore is only the third country Mr Kim has visited since he became the leader in 2011.

The US wants North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons in an irreversible manner that can be verified internationally.

Mr Kim now wants to focus on building the North Korean economy and wants sanctions relief and international investment.

Mr Trump said if he thinks things are going badly he will walk out of the meeting, but if things go well, Mr Kim could receive an invitation to the White House.