Photographs from Trump and Kim Jong Un’s Diplomatic Meetings

As Donald Trump once again highlighted his rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, pictures from their encounters bring back memories of a unique diplomatic chapter. Over the weekend, Trump posted on social media referencing Kim. In one post, he shared a photo from their 2019 meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, commenting: “Despite the unfriendly look in this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling. Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” In another post, Trump stated his “very good relationship” with Kim led him to oppose large-scale U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.

These posts evoke the unusual diplomatic relationship that featured several groundbreaking moments. Trump and Kim met three times between 2018 and 2019, marking the first summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. It was also the first time a sitting American president visited North Korean soil.

Singapore Summit, June 2018

The year 2018 saw Trump and Kim at the center of an unprecedented event: the first summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. This encounter drew worldwide attention and was portrayed as a new beginning in Washington-Pyongyang relations.

Meeting at the Capella Resort in Singapore on June 12, 2018, both leaders engaged in several hours of discussion before signing a joint statement. This statement highlighted their shared commitment to foster new relations and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Images from this summit are among the defining visuals of Trump’s presidency. They depict the U.S. president walking alongside Kim, smiling for cameras, showcasing a display of personal rapport.

Hanoi Summit, February 2019

Following the goodwill of Singapore, expectations were high for the talks in Hanoi. Both leaders focused on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang but failed to reach an agreement.

Negotiators couldn’t reconcile differences over the level of sanctions relief North Korea sought and the denuclearization measures the U.S. expected in return. The summit ended earlier than planned with no signing ceremony, yet photos showed a continued cordial relationship.

Demilitarized Zone, June 2019

In June 2019, Trump and Kim met at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. During this meeting, Trump stepped across the military demarcation line into North Korea, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so. The images from this moment quickly spread globally, symbolizing Trump’s approach to North Korea.

The meeting supported Trump’s claim that his personal rapport with Kim eased tensions, though broader negotiations remained stalled.

A Relationship That Still Draws Attention

The diplomatic efforts initiated in Singapore did not deliver the denuclearization progress sought by negotiators. Formal talks stalled; however, the images still resonate as they captured a series of groundbreaking moments: the first summit and meeting between sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, and a sitting U.S. president entering North Korean territory.