Pope Francis on Sunday praised US President Donald Trump for meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea — hoping that the unprecedented meeting of the two world leaders leads to peace.
In his speech delivered from a window at the papal residence overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pope credited the leaders of the United States and North Korea for promoting peace. “In the last few hours we saw in Korea a good example of the culture of encounter,” the Pope said.
“I salute the protagonists, with a prayer that such a significant gesture will be a further step on the road to peace, not only on that peninsula, but for the good of the entire world,” he added.
Pope Francis plans to visit North Korea after being invited by Kim.
Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korean soil where he shook hands with dictator Kim Jong Un for the third time in just over a year.
“We want to see if we can do a really comprehensive, good deal,” Trump told reporters.
Trump described the chat with Kim as “historic” and “important statement.” However, Trump’s critics believed that the meeting may have been nothing but just a special “photo op” not until an actual agreement between the two has been proven.
After talking with Kim, the U.S president was then joined by South Korean leader Moon Jae-In. He said that both sides would do everything to designate working-level teams to “work out the details” as they seek a “comprehensive deal” on denuclearization.
“Over the next two to three weeks the teams are going to start working to try to see if they can do something,” Trump said.
“Very big stuff, very complicated, but not as complicated as people think,” Trump said, referring to the denuclearization talks.
