The 2018 North Korea–United States summit, or Singapore summit, is the first summit between a United States President and the North Korean leader. It took place on June 12, 2018 at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island in Singapore. The White House confirmed the planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un on March 8, 2018. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that "in the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain". Kim referred to preparations for the meeting in remarks to the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea on April 9.
North Korea abruptly cut off talks with South Korea on May 15, 2018 and threatened to cancel the planned summit, citing Max Thunder military exercises between the United States and South Korea. On May 24, Trump cancelled the summit citing aggressive rhetoric from a North Korean official. However, Trump reversed course the following day in response to a message from Kim, who said that he was still willing to meet with Trump and discuss denuclearization "at any time". The United States subsequently resumed preparations for the summit, and invited Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, to the White House. On June 1, Trump announced that the summit would take place as scheduled for June 12.
Singapore made thorough preparations to host the summit. According to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the summit had cost the Singapore government S$20 million (US$15 million), half of which was for security measures. On March 5, 2018, South Korea's special delegation agreed to hold the third inter-Korean summit at Inter-Korean Peace House in Panmunjom on April 27, 2018. On March 6, after returning to South Korea, the national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, and National Information Director Suh Hoon traveled to the United States on March 8 to report to President Trump about the upcoming inter-Korean summit, and relayed to Trump the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's invitation. Trump endorsed the North Korea–United States summit about an hour after receiving the report. The South Korean National Security Adviser (SKNS), Mr Jeong briefed the public that the North Korea–United States summit would be held sometime in May 2018.
The White House announced that the UN Sanctions would remain in place until an agreement between the United States and North Korea is reached. On March 6, Sarah Sanders said that the White House would need to see "concrete and verifiable steps" toward the denuclearization of North Korea before Trump would meet with Kim Jong-un. Later that day, an unidentified Trump official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump had still accepted Kim Jong-un's invitation.
South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong visited China March 12–13, 2018, and met Chinese leader Xi Jinping inclusive of the foreign officials to report about the planned inter-Korean summit as well as the North Korea–United States summit and ask their advice and assistance. He is also planning to visit Russia on March 14, 2018, for explaining North Korea and the United States Visit Summary, seeking guidance for upcoming 2018 inter-Korean summit. National Information Director Suh Hoon visited Japan and had a consultation with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe including the foreign officials about the denuclearization and Permanent Peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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