Trump, Kim sign unspecified document, end summit with lofty promises

US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un signed an unspecified document at the end of an historical summit that they punctuated with promises of change. 

By: AP and World Israel News Staff

US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un concluded an extraordinary summit Tuesday with the signing of a document whose contents were yet to be revealed.

The American president promised to take care of a “very dangerous problem” and Kim forecast “major change for the world.” They signed a document that Trump described as “pretty comprehensive,” but he declined to elaborate, saying the details would be revealed later.

Trump is due to speak to the media at 2:30 p.m. local Singapore time. The US leader told reporters he would elaborate on the agreement then.

A US official told CNN that the document would acknowledge the progress of the talks and pledge to keep momentum going.

Speaking moments after the two leaders signed the unspecified document, President Trump said that he had developed a “very special bond” with Kim Jong Un. “It’s been an honor to be with you.”

When asked if he would invite Kim to the White House, Trump responded, “Absolutely, I will.”

Standing again in front of the US and North Korean flags, where they began the historic day, Trump and Kim shook hands one final time.

“(He’s) a worthy negotiator,” Trump said to the gathered reporters. “He’s negotiating on behalf of his people.”

Trump was asked what he had learned about the North Korean leader. “I learned he’s a very talented man. I also learned he loves his country very much.”

Air Force One is scheduled to fly out of Singapore in the evening, at about 7 p.m. local time.

Kim Jong Un’s motorcade has already begun departing Sentosa Island in Singapore.

Throughout the summit that could chart the course for historic peace or raise the specter of a growing nuclear threat, both leaders expressed optimism. Kim called the sit-down a “good prelude for peace” and Trump pledged that “working together we will get it taken care of.”

In advance of their private session, Trump predicted “tremendous success” while Kim said through an interpreter that “we have come here after overcoming” obstacles.

Trump criticized for legitimizing Kim

Critics of the summit leapt at the leaders’ handshake and the moonlight stroll Kim took Monday night along the glittering Singapore waterfront, saying it was further evidence that Trump was helping legitimize Kim on the world stage as an equal of the U.S. president. Kim has been accused of horrific rights abuses against his people.

Trump responded to such commentary on Twitter, saying: “The fact that I am having a meeting is a major loss for the U.S., say the haters & losers.” But he added, “our hostages” are back home and testing, research and launches have stopped.