These are the moments that lead to the historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
IT’S been a year of fiery relations between US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. These are the moments that led to their historic summit.
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IT’S been a year of fiery relations between US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. These are the moments that lead to their historic summit.
2017
JANUARY
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warns the nation is in the final stages of developing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
APRIL
Tensions escalate after Donald Trump orders a missile strike on Syria and reports that the US had rerouted warships towards the Koreanpeninsula.
North Korea also reveals what appear to be intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade to mark the birthday of founding leader Kim Il-Sung.
JULY
North Korea test fires its first ever intercontinental ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. Experts believe the country has proved it is capable or nearly capable of launching a missile that could potentially reach the West Coast of the US or Darwin.
AUGUST
President Trump warns North Korea will be “met with fire and fury” if it does not stop threatening the United States. Pyongyang responds within hours by threatening to fire ballistic missiles near the US Pacific territory of Guam.
Later in the month, North Korea test fires a missile over Japan for the first time since 2009. The missile falls into the ocean but tensions skyrocket in the region.
An emergency UN Security Council meeting is called.
China announces it plans to implement the UN sanctions on North Korea agreed upon earlier in August.
SEPTEMBER
North Korea announces it has successfully conducted a nuclear bomb. The September 3 test is the country’s sixth test. It causes a magnitude-6.3 earthquake.
The test is followed by another missile launch over Japan.
It prompts discussions between President Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who agree to “maximising pressure” on North Korea by implementing UN sanctions.
President Trump addresses UN General Assembly on September 19, warning the US “will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea” if it threatens America or its allies.
He calls Kim “rocket man”, saying the North Korean leader is on a suicide mission.
Pyongyang responds by calling Trump a “mentally deranged US dotard”.
On September 25, Pyongyang accuses Trump of declaring war on the country after the President tweets that North Korea “won’t be around much longer.”
The White House denies the US has declared war.
NOVEMBER
North Korea tests another intercontinental ballistic missile. President Trump declares “we’ll handle it” at a press conference shortly after.
2018
JANUARY
The first signs of a change in relations between North and South Korea. The North says it will send a team to the Winter Olympics in the South.
FEBRUARY
Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong leads a delegation to attend the Winter Olympics.
MARCH
South Korea sends a delegation to speak with Kim Jong-un on March 5.
On March 9, a South Korean official announces Kim has invited President Trump to meet for talks, while agreeing to halt all further nuclear and missile tests.
President Trump confirms he will meet Kim.
APRIL
A historic inter-Korean summit took place on April 27, between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un. It was the first summit between the estranged countries in 11 years, and was also the first time a North Korean leader entered the South’s territory since the unofficial end of the Korean War in 1953. A peace declaration was made following the meeting.
MAY
After a North Korean delegation stood up an advance US party in Singapore, threatened to renew nuclear testing and sent a Pyongyang spokeswoman out to call US Vice President a “dummy”, President Trump abruptly cancelled the summit through an open letter.
JUNE
The summit was declared back on after Kim’s right-hand man and former spy chief Kim Yong Chol visited the White House with a conciliatory letter from his boss.
“We are going to deal, and we are really going to start a process,” Trump said.
“Remember what I say: We will see what we will see.”
LEADER PROFILE
DONALD TRUMP
Age: 71
Position: 45th President of the United States
Date assumed office: 20 January, 2017
Job before becoming leader: Business tycoon and reality TV star
Likes: Golf, posting on Twitter, eating McDonalds.
Education: Economics degree from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Spouse: Melania Trump – married in 2005. She is his third wife.
Key quote: “A lot of good things could happen, a lot of bad things can happen. I believe that both sides want to negotiate a deal. I believe we have a really good shot at it being successful.”
Celebrity friends: Greg Norman, Gene Simmons, Kid Rock, Mike Tyson
Nuclear weapon power: About 6550 nuclear warheads – 4000 stockpiled and 2,550 retired
KIM JONG-UN
Age: 33-35 (disputed)
Position: Supreme leader of North Korea
Date assumed office: 17 December, 2011
Job before becoming leader: Unknown
Education: Kim has two degrees from Kim II-sung University – including one in physics. He also attended a Swiss boarding school called Liebefeld-Steinhölzli.
Spouse: Ri Sol-ju.
Likes: As a child he was obsessed with basketball and watching action films.
Key quote on possible peace with South Korea: “We will work towards preventing another horrible war. With one language, one culture and one history, North and South Korea will be joined as one nation.”
Celebrity friends: Dennis Rodman
Nuclear weapon power: Approximately 10-20 warheads
Originally published as These are the moments that lead to the historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
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