Kim-Trump historic summit ends with pledge to forge new era
Singapore, June 12 : US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive" document at the end of their historic summit here on Tuesday, vowing to forge a new partnership and reverse decades of American policy toward the rogue regime.
The content of the agreement was not immediately clear although both sides touted it as a significant achievement, reports The New Straits Times.
"Today we had a very historic meeting, overcoming our past history and embarking on a new beginning... The world will see a major change," Kim said before leaving for the St. Regis hotel after the summit.
Trump said he had invited Kim to the White House. The summit took place at the British colonial style Capella Hotel in Sentosa Island, a tourist paradise.
Kim and Trump became the first leaders of their countries to ever come face to face. Trump said the US relationship with North Korea will be different from the past.
"We're both going to do something, and we've developed a very special bond... We're going to take care of a very big and dangerous problem for the rest of the world.
"It worked out far better for both of us than anybody could have expected," he added.
When asked about denuclearisation, Trump said: "We are starting the process very quickly."
In response to a question on whether the two leaders will meet again, Trump said: "We'll meet again, we'll meet many times."
He said the two leaders learned a lot about each other since they shared a historic handshake for the first time earlier this morning. Trump described Kim as a "very worthy, very smart negotiator".
During the signing ceremony, the two leaders sat side by side at an expansive wooden table decorated with white flowers and were flanked on either side by American and North Korean flags, The new Straits Times reported.
The signing came after a one on one meeting between Kim and Trump which was followed by an expanded bilateral meeting with their aides and a working lunch.
They even went for a stroll. Before the signing, Kim said the summit was a "great prelude to peace".
"Of course there will be difficulties along the way, but as of today, a day that a good start has been made, I am determined to start a grand undertaking together," he added.
They began their summit in a carefully choreographed encounter at 9 a.m. The two leaders then shared a 12-second handshake against a backdrop of American and North Korean flags.
They reached Singapore on Sunday followed by their individual meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Trump and Kim will depart Singapore later on Tuesday.
The summit, which was almost scrapped by a mercurial Trump last month, comes after a flurry of diplomatic activities and barrage of invective and insults traded between the US President and an equally aggressive Kim.
It also marks a diplomatic landmark between the two countries with a long history of tense ties.
The 1950-53 Korean War ended without an official peace treaty. Previous US Presidents have made several attempts to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons, without success.
Two major diplomatic efforts - an agreement in 1994 and the six-party talks in the 2000s - were ultimately abandoned, with both sides either failing to agree or accusing the other of not abiding by the terms of the agreements.
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Women’s Asian Champions Trophy: Deepika stars again as India cruise to semis with 3-0 win over Japan
Rajgir (Bihar), Nov 17: Defending champions India stormed into the semifinals of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy with an unbeaten record, defeating Japan 3-0 here on Sunday.
Continuing her stellar form, star striker Deepika netted a quickfire brace from penalty corners in the final quarter to seal the victory, following vice-captain Navneet Kaur’s opener in the 37th minute.
With this win, India topped the league stage with maximum 15 points from five matches, ahead of Olympic silver medallists China (12 points).
India will take on fourth-placed Japan in the semifinal on Tuesday, while China will play third-placed Malaysia in the other last-four game.
Deepika, the tournament’s leading scorer, now boasts 10 goals, including four field goals, five penalty corners, and one penalty stroke, underscoring her dominance.
In the day’s other matches, Malaysia beat Thailand 2-0, while China defeated South Korea by an identical margin.
The Indians secured their first scoring chance in the form of back-to-back penalty corners in the eighth minute but Deepika's flick from the second effort was brilliantly saved by Japanese goalkeeper Yu Kudo.
India earned another penalty corner in the 13th minute but yet again wasted the chance.
The Indians continued to dominate and secured their fourth penalty corner in the 25th minute but once again Kudo rose to the occasion and made three brilliant saves to deny the hosts.
A minute after the change of ends, Kudo again came to Japan's rescue to deny Deepika.
India eventually broke the deadlock in the 37th minute through Navneet's brilliant reverse hit to the second post.
Deepika's brilliance
The Indians continued their domination and earned three back-to-back penalty corrners in the 47th minute and star dragflicker Deepika finally found the back of the net with a powerful low dragflick to open her account.
A minute later, the Indians secured another set piece and this time too Deepika struck again with a powerful flick into the top right corner, effectively sealing the match.
Credit must also go to the Indian defence, led brilliantly by Udita and Sushila Chanu, as they didn't let the Japanese take a single shot at the Indian goal.
Skipper Salima Tete, Neha and Sharmila Devi too were brilliant in the midfield, creating numerous chances for the forwardline with their runs and neat dribbling skills.
