Donald Trump steps onto North Korean soil, meet with Kim Jong-un on border line

Donald Trump has become the first US president to cross the border into North Korea during a historic meeting with Kim Jong-un on Sunday.

Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-un in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, as part of a last-minute meeting between the two leaders.

The meeting saw Trump become the first US president to step foot on North Korean soil after crossing the demarcation line.

After a quick handshake, the two leaders spoke briefly, with Trump saying it was a “great honour” to step across onto North Korean soil.

Stepping across that line is a great honour, great progress has been made, great friendships have been made and this has been, in particular, a great friendship, he said.

We met and we liked each other from day one, and that is very important.

US President Donald Trump steps into the northern side of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFPSource:AFP

Kim praised Trump for being the first to cross the border into North Korea.

President Trump just crossed became first US president to visit our country, he said.

This is an expression of his willingness to eliminate the aggression of the past and open a new future.

Speaking through a translator, the North Korean leader congratulated Trump on his “courageous and determined act”, which he said signifies a willingness to “bring an end to the unpleasant past”.

Trump also said he would invite Kim to visit the White House moments after Kim crossed the demarcation line himself and entered into South Korea.

The North Korean leader reciprocated the invite, claiming it would be an “honour” to host Trump at Pyongyang “at the right time”

BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump is meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the demilitarized zone

MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK pic.twitter.com/m5K8BiNWO6

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) June 30, 2019

It is the third time the two leaders have met, and the first since a failed summit on the North’s nuclear program in Vietnam earlier this year.

President Trump thanked Kim for responding to his last-minute invitation and saving him from looking bad to the press.

When I put out the social media notification, if he didn’t show up, the press was going to make me look very bad, so you made us both look good and I appreciate it, he said.

Kim admitted he was surprised by the invitation but hopes the meeting “can be the foundation for better things in the future”.