Historic handshake between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. (photo: Straits Times/Getty Images)

After a historic handshake, Kim and Trump entered an unprecedented one-on-one meeting with the aid of translators.They then held a summit and a working lunch with advisors. The two leaders discussed peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

Tough way to the summit

One year ago, no one could imagine that the situation on the Korean peninsula and in US-North Korean relations could reach the level of today’s meeting. In the middle of June, 2017, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun reported that the country was close to producing international ballistic missiles (ICBM) capable of reaching the US. Some weeks later, while the US was celebrating its Independence Day (July 4), North Korea announced the successful launch of its first ICBM. In the following months, North Korea’s repeated missile launches pushed it ever closer to war with the US. The 6^th nuclear test in September, 2017 was the biggest one ever by North Korea.

Since the beginning of the year, North Korea has showed signs of friendliness. Pyongyang reopened the inter-Korean hot line in January, paving the way for a series of positive diplomatic moves. In February, Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of leader Kim Jong-un, attended the Winter Olympics in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. Two inter-Korean summits between leader Kim Jong-un and President Moon Jae-in took place in April and May. They issued the Panmunjom Declaration aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and seeking a formal end to the Korean War. The inter-Korean summits paved the way for the US-North Korean summit on June 12 in Singapore.

Diplomatic achievements

The US-North Korean summit was attributed to the consistent efforts of involved parties. President Moon Jae-in made a friendly gesture to North Korea in order to break the isolation and blockade imposed upon the country. He extended the initiative for direct North Korean-US talks to President Trump.

Both the US and North Korea consider the summit as their own diplomatic success. Trump said ultimate pressure has forced North Korea to take a seat at the negotiating table and stop nuclear and missile tests. Kim said the US’s acceptance to talk is a diplomatic success. Kim’s sitting alongside the US President shows Pyongyang’s increasing influence and gives it an opportunity to revive the economy.

Trump once said the summit would be an opportunity for direct talks for peace. The Rodong Sinmun said a new relationship between Pyongyang and Washington would be established.

After nearly 7 decades of confrontation, it is unlikely that all of the disagreements between the US and North Korea will be resolved within the summit. But it marks a giant leap forward and rare chance for dialogue between the leaders of two rival nations as they seek peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.