SINGAPORE — President Trump shook his hand for 13 long seconds, patted him on the back and led him down a rich red carpet. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be considered the world’s greatest human rights abuser and a totalitarian collector of nuclear weapons, but as they met for the first time here Tuesday, Trump declared himself honored.
“We will have a terrific relationship, I have no doubt,” the U.S. president said with a smile, settling into an armchair opposite the dictator. American and North Korean flags framed the improbable detente between two men who at the start of the year were hurling insults at one another and appeared on the brink of nuclear war.
“Mr. Chairman,” Trump said as he addressed Kim from across a flower-lined wooden table, “it’s a great honor to be with you and I know that we will have tremendous success together.”