Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un shake hands on North Korea side of DMZ in historic moment

Donald Trump has become the first serving US president to step into North Korea as he met with Kim Jong-un, with the leader of the rogue state extended a surprising invite during the “truly historic” moment.

Donald Trump has become the first US President to walk into North Korea, shaking the hand of its notorious dictator and declaring it “a great day for the world”.

Mr Trump crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the the north and south of the Korean peninsula in a symbolic spectacle, having invited Kim Jong-Un to meet him only 24 hours earlier on Twitter.

The pair shook hands over the line that marks where their two countries and their allies fought each other to a standstill at the halt of the Korean War, before Mr Trump walked for several steps into enemy territory.

They then walked back across the border into South Korean territory they were joined by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

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In a historic moment, Donald Trump became the first serving US President to cross the Demilitarised Zone into North Korea and meet Kim Jong-un. Picture: AP

“It’s a great day for the world and it’s an honour for me to be here,” Trump told assembled media.

“A lot of great things are happening.”

He said it was a “truly historic” moment and that he was “proud to step over the line” between the Koreas.

Mr Trump told reporters after the meeting that he suggested to Mr Kim that the North Korean leader could visit Washington DC for more discussions.

The US President said he told Mr Kim that, “at the right time, you’re going to come over” and that that could be “any time he wants to do it.” He added that he “would certainly extend the invite” and that, “at some point” it will happen.

The day was also eventful for the new White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, who suffered bruises when a scuffle broke out between North Korean security guards and members of the media trying to get close to the two leaders as they met at the DMZ.

The new press secretary, who replaced Sarah Sanders in the job, was reportedly pushing back against the guards, trying to help members of the White House press corps position themselves to cover the historic moment between Trump and Kim.

President Trump's press secretary Stephanie Grisham ended up with bruises after being shoved by Kim Jong Un's security guards.

Donald Trump has become the first serving US president to cross into North Korea: https://t.co/mwEKbrimXv pic.twitter.com/EJNWwPV3jP

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 30, 2019

Ms Grisham, 42, was a former spokeswoman for First Lady Melania Trump.

Mr Trump flew to Seoul following the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan to continue with negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington over the North’s nuclear arsenal.

Ahead of the meeting, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the event would be a a “significant milestone in the peace process” and he could “really feel that the flower of peace was truly blossoming on the Korean peninsula.”

Mr Trump said he would invite Mr Kim to the White House, and Mr Kim said it was “good to see” the US President again. Picture: AP

The North Korean leader, wearing his traditional Mao suit, told Mr Trump in English it was “good to see you again”, adding he would have “never expected” to see him “at this place”.

Through an interpreter he described it as a “courageous and determined act” which “has a lot of significance”.

“This was very quick notice and I want to thank you,” Trump told Kim, saying it was only a handshake, “but a handshake means a lot.”

The pair’s third meeting and first since negotiations broke down after a Vietnam summit in February intended to put flesh on those bones of a peace deal.

The two leaders then had a meeting at The Freedom House on the South Korean side. Picture: AFP

The four-kilometre-wide DMZ runs for 250 kilometres across the Korean peninsula, around 50 kilometres north of Seoul and 200 kilometres south of Pyongyang.

President George W. Bush visited in February 2002, a month after he named North Korea as part of his “axis of evil”, with Barack Obama visiting in 2012, and US Vice President Mike Pence in April 2017 amid heightened tensions with the reclusive state.

The pair held a bilateral meeting in The Freedom House on the South Korean side, amid fears for the welfare of Australian man Alek Sigley who has been missing, feared detained, in North Korea since last week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday he had spoken to the family of the 29-year-old Perth man and said was to “quietly” and “actively” working with international partners to “bring him home”.

“That’s all about using the best opportunities we have right now to inform ourselves about where Alek is and what his safety is and where he’s being held and in what conditions,” Mr Morrison said.

“My concern is simply for his welfare.”

Originally published as Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un shake hands on North Korea side of DMZ in historic moment