President Trump, Kim Jong-Un Shake Hands at Historic Singapore Summit

President Donald Trump shook hands with North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa around 9:04 a.m. local time (2:04 a.m. in Nigeria.) for the start of their historic summit Tuesday.

It’s the first time a sitting United States president and a North Korean leader had a one-on-one interaction in a major positive shift for world peace.

The historic handshake was in front of alternating U.S. and North Korean flags either side of both men – an arrangement that was specifically made for the moment.

“We will have a terrific relationship,” Mr Trump said, adding that he had high hopes that the meeting would be a success.

“The way to get here was not easy,” said Kim. “But we overcame all the obstacles to get here.”

The two leaders shook hands again for more than 10 seconds before ending the press briefing ahead of their private meeting which would have only their translators present.

Later on, an expanded bilateral meeting and a working lunch will be held during which Trump said landmark documents will be signed.

The talks are expected to focus on denuclearisation, security and economic assurances for North Korea, and ways to improve bilateral relations and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.

Mr Trump is still expected to address the media to provide insight into what transpired between him and Mr Jong-Un at their private talks, which is expected to last two hours.

Irrespective of the outcome of the meeting, it is already being hailed as a historic milestone for world diplomacy.