Donald Trump recently reiterated claims of a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photos capture this unusual diplomatic chapter in modern history. Over the weekend, Trump posted several messages on social media about Kim. In one, a photograph of their 2019 meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone was shared. Trump commented, “Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling. Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” Another post mentioned his “very good relationship” with Kim as a reason for opposing large-scale joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
These posts bring back memories of a diplomatic period that achieved historic firsts. Between 2018 and 2019, Trump and Kim met three times. These meetings included the first summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, and the first visit of an American president to North Korean territory.
Singapore Summit, June 2018
In 2018, Trump and Kim had a groundbreaking meeting. It marked the first summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. The world watched closely, and both nations viewed it as the beginning of a new phase in their relations.
The meeting at the Capella Resort in Singapore on June 12, 2018, involved hours of discussions. The leaders signed a joint statement to improve relations and work towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Images from Singapore show Trump and Kim together, displaying rapport, which became a key feature of their meetings.
Hanoi Summit, February 2019
Following Singapore, expectations were high for progress in Hanoi. Both sides aimed to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and the corresponding sanctions on Pyongyang.
However, unlike Singapore, the Hanoi summit ended without an agreement. The parties could not resolve differences over sanctions relief and denuclearization steps. The meeting ended earlier than planned with no signing ceremony. Despite this, images from Hanoi showed a cordial interaction between the two leaders.
Demilitarized Zone, June 2019
In June 2019, Trump and Kim met in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the fortified boundary between North and South Korea. During the meeting, Trump crossed the military line into North Korea, making him the first sitting U.S. president to do so. This moment produced globally recognized images, symbolizing Trump’s diplomatic approach to North Korea.
The meeting supported Trump’s claim that his relationship with Kim reduced tensions, even though formal negotiations stalled.
A Relationship That Still Draws Attention
The diplomatic efforts began in Singapore but did not achieve the desired denuclearization breakthrough. Talks eventually stalled. Nonetheless, these meetings documented unprecedented moments: the first summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders, the first meeting of a sitting American president with a North Korean ruler, and the first time a sitting U.S. president entered North Korea.
For more details, contact Newsweek editors Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.