Trump arrives in demilitarised zone to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – live

Interesting analysis from Frank Jannuzi, formerly of the state department, in response to Trump’s comment that “all of the danger went away” after the first summit between the two leaders last June.

‘After our first summit all of the danger went away,’ Trump addresses press in DMZ

“It used to be dangerous, very, very dangerous. After our first summit all of the danger went away,” Trump said, while addressing press in the DMZ.

Trump criticised the press for their coverage of his summits with Kim Jong-un, particularly the most recent summit in Hanoi, which ended suddenly without an agreement. “They have no appreciation for what we’ve done,” he said.

“I would say to people who say nothing has been accomplished, so much was accomplished,” he said.

Trump was told that around 25 million people, including 10 million in the Seoul greater metropolitan area, are within range of North Korean artillery along the northern side of the DMZ.

“There’s nothing like that anywhere, in terms of danger,” Trump said. “But it’s all working out,” he added in a reference to his dialogue with Kim Jong-un. “It always works out.”

Trump is speaking to press. He says that much has been accomplished in improving the North Korean and US relationship due to his meetings with Kim Jong-un.

“I would say to people who say nothing has been accomplished, so much was accomplished,” he said.

“It’s all working out, it always works out.”

And Trump has left the observation tower.

A reminder that this issue has been a key branding point for Donald Trump who hails his meetings with Kim Jong-un (particularly the first meeting in Singapore last year) as one of the great achievements of his presidency.

Footage from that meeting has featured in many of the video packages produced by the president’s team, that resemble movie trailers, selling Trump’s achievements. Looks like we might expect today’s meeting to feature in the next video.

This is the third time the two leaders have met. The first was in Singapore last June. They met again in February this year in Hanoi, but the meeting ended abruptly without progress.

Associated Press is saying that the meeting between the two leaders is not as impromptu as it has been presented.

From AP: “Despite Trump’s comments Saturday, he had told The Hill newspaper in Washington in an interview this past week that he would be visiting the DMZ and “might” meet with Kim. The paper reported it had withheld Trump’s comments, citing security concerns by the White House.”

Donald Tump has arrived in the DMZ for this fairly impromptu meeting with the chairman of North Korea. They are expected to shake hands and say hello, but not have any full-length talks.

The live-stream embedded at the top of the Guardian’s liveblog is making for some interesting listening at the moment.

Reporters are preparing to get footage of the president’s arrival and greeting of the North Korean leader. However, they are being given strict instructions about what they are and are not allowed to film and photograph. “The boundary is the tower, do not film anything past that tower,” a minder’s voice is heard saying in English.

This is Kate Lyons taking over from Alison Rourke. CNN reports that Trump has landed in the demilitarised zone and will meet with Kong Jong-un shortly.

Donald Trump has travelled to the so-called “peace village” of Panmunjom, the site of the demarcation line between the two Koreas when their war finished in 1953. Helicopters have been arriving at the site in the past two minutes.

Hello and welcome to this live blog for the highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un. The two men are expected to shake hands at the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, possibly in the next hour. There is also the possibility that Donald Trump may step over the border and in to the north, something he said yesterday he would be happy to do. Trump will be accompanied by South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in. Follow all of our live coverage of this historic meeting.