Trump and Kim Jong Un: A Diplomatic Relationship Captured in Photos

Donald Trump once more asserted his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photographs capture this unique diplomatic relationship, which stands out in recent history.

Over the weekend, Trump posted on social media about Kim. He shared a photo from their 2019 meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, saying, “Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling, Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” In another post, Trump claimed his “very good relationship” with Kim influenced his stance on opposing large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea.

These posts recall a diplomatic chapter marked by historical 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 by a sitting American president to North Korean territory.

Singapore Summit, June 2018

In June 2018, Trump and Kim held an unprecedented summit, marking the first meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. Global attention was focused on this event, seen by both nations as the start of new diplomatic relations.

During their meeting at the Capella Resort in Singapore on June 12, 2018, Trump and Kim engaged in hours of talks. They later signed a joint statement to pursue new relations and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The images from Singapore feature Trump walking beside Kim, showcasing personal rapport.

Hanoi Summit, February 2019

The Hanoi Summit followed the goodwill of Singapore. Both countries pursued progress on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and sanctions relief.

Unlike Singapore, the Hanoi talks ended without agreement. The parties couldn’t resolve their differences on sanctions relief and denuclearization commitments. Despite the summit concluding earlier than expected, the photos from Hanoi still depicted cordial exchanges.

Demilitarized Zone, June 2019

The meeting in June 2019 at the Korean Demilitarized Zone had Trump stepping across the border into North Korea, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so. This moment was captured in photos that quickly gained global attention, symbolizing Trump’s diplomatic efforts with North Korea.

This encounter reinforced Trump’s claim that his personal rapport with Kim reduced tensions, despite ongoing stalled negotiations.

Enduring Attention

The diplomatic process initiated in Singapore did not achieve the denuclearization goals negotiators sought, and formal discussions eventually faltered. However, the photos from these events continue to highlight historic firsts: the initial summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders, the first meeting of a sitting American president with North Korea’s ruler, and a sitting U.S. president’s first entrance into North Korea.

Readers with further inquiries can contact Newsweek editors Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.