Immediately after Kim Jong-un agreed to the complete denuclearisation, US President Donald Trump said that the US called off all military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.
Trump’s announcement means that “war games” between the US and South Korea – a regular feature on the peninsula – will no longer be held. North Korea sees the military exercises as a threat to the nation and the Kim regime.
The major strategic decision comes immediately after the US committed to “security guarantees” to North Korea – officially known as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – in the Singapore Agreement signed by Trump and Kim on Tuesday.
At a press conference following the historic summit with Kim, Trump said that the two nations are ready to script new chapters in a new history.
“We are prepared for the new history. We are ready to write new chapters. The past does not to have to define the future,” said Trump in Singapore, where he had arrived on Sunday for the summit scheduled for Tuesday.
Trump, who is a Republican, took a jibe at those critical of his government while fielding a series of questions from the press.
“We got it (the agreement) done. Even for me it would have been much easier had it been taken 10-25 years ago. I was dealt a tough hand,” claimed Trump.
“Kim told me that we have never gone so far. He said that he never had the confidence in any of the previous Presidents in getting things done. He wanted to do this, even more than me,” he said.
“He wants to do the right thing. He is a very good negotiator,” Trump continued in his praise for Kim.
“I think this meeting was good for United States as it was for North Korea. Only a person who hates Donald Trump would say that I have agreed to make a big commitment. Yes, it was a big commitment to meet Kim. But, it was good for us,” he added.
“We signed a very comprehensive document today and I think when he (Kim Jong-un) lands in North Korea he will start the process soon,” said Trump expressing confidence in Kim.
Read More: Kim agrees to complete denuclearisation, Trump assures ‘security guarantees’
“Kim Jong-un has the chance to cease a better future for his country. Anyone can make war but only the most courageous can make peace,” said Trump.
“He (Kim) really wants to get it done,” asserted Trump, adding that human rights was also discussed during the meeting.
North Korea is infamous of its human rights record. One of the commitments in the agreement signed today was the repatriation of remains of prisoners of wars and missing in action (MIA) to which Pyongyang agreed.
He added that both the US and North Korea will hopefully soon establish diplomatic ties but the US-imposed sanctions will be lifted only when the nuclear missiles are no longer a factor.
“I am looking forward to take them off,” said Trump.
He said that the North Korean leader will be invited to White House at an appropriate time.