Donald Trump has revealed he got Kim Jong-un onside by talking about what a prosperous North Korea could look like.
The US president told Kim booming development, including "the best hotels in the world", could be within his reach should he choose peace over nuclear weapons.
"(North Korea) have great beaches," the billionaire property developer-turned-president said in a press conference after his historic summit with Kim.
"You see that whenever they are exploding the cannons into the ocean. I said, 'Boy - look at that view.' Wouldn't that make a great condo? I said, 'Instead of doing that, you could have the best hotels in the world.'"
Trump said Kim, during their meeting, watched a video on an iPad of a vibrant economy - and was impressed.
"That was a version of what could happen and what could take place," Trump said.
Trump made the comments during a wide-ranging, 65-minute press conference after he and Kim signed a joint agreement in which Kim committed to "complete denuclearisation".
In his opening statement, Trump thanked Kim for taking a "bold new step for his people" and that "real change" is possible following the "honest, direct and productive" talks in Singapore on Tuesday.
He said the two nations are prepared "to write a new chapter", adding North Korea "has the potential to be an amazing place".
"There is no limit to what North Korea can achieve when it gives up its weapons and embraces commerce," he said.
"Chairman Kim has the chance to seize an incredible future for his people. Anyone can make war but only the most courageous can make peace."
Donald Trump answers questions about the summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. Source: AP
Trump takes questions
Following his prepared statement, Trump invited questions, joking he felt very uncomfortable in front of so many journalists.
Korean War 'will soon end': The US leader raised hopes that the Korean War would soon end.
"Now we can have hope that it will soon end and it will, it will soon end," said Trump, noting that the 1950-53 hostilities ceased with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The four-point plan: Trump claimed Kim has given his "unwavering commitment" to denuclearisation and agreed verbally to destroying a major missile engine testing site. However, this commitment was not included in the joint declaration the two men signed.
"North Korea is already destroying a major missile engine testing site," Trump said. "We agreed to that after the agreement was signed."
He said he was confident Kim would "live up to" the agreement".
Donald Trump during a signing ceremony with the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, in Singapore. Source: Press Association
'War games': Trump said the US will stop holding military exercises on the Korean peninsula. Washington and Seoul are security allies and hold joint exercises every year that infuriate Pyongyang.
"We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters, adding that "at some point" he wanted to withdraw US troops from the South.
Kim accepts White House invitation: Trump told reporters he will visit Pyongyang "at the appropriate time", adding that Kim has accepted an invitation to visit the White House.
'Kim is very talented': Trump defended his earlier comments that Kim is "very talented" despite the North Korean leader's egregious human rights record. He praised Kim for being able to run the country, given his age.
"He is very talented," Trump said, referring to Kim's ability to "take over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and run it, and run it tough."
Human rights: Trump, when asked, said he spoke with Kim about the country's commitment to human rights at length.
“They will be doing things. He wants to do the right thing,” Trump said, adding that Kim is a smart negotiator.
He also said: "We did discuss it today, strongly. We will be doing something on it. It's rough. It's rough in a lot of places, by the way."
Otto Warmbier: Trump said the summit never would have happened without Warmbier's death. The 22-year-old American university student was brain-damaged while detained in North Korea and returned comatose to the US where he died last year. At the time, Trump accused North Korea of torturing Warmbier.
"Otto Warmbier is a very special person and he will be for a long time in my life," Trump said on Tuesday.
"His parents are good friends of mine. I think without Otto, this would not have happened. Something happened from that day. It was a terrible thing. It was brutal. But a lot of people started to focus on what was going on, including North Korea. I really think that Otto is someone who did not die in vain. I told this to his parents. Special young man. And I have to say, special parents, special people. Otto did not die in vain. He had a lot to do with this."
Sanctions: Trump said he anticipates lifting sanctions against North Korea when "nukes are no longer a factor".
"Scientifically you have to wait certain periods of time," Trump said. "But once you start the process it means it’s pretty much over."
He said the process would start "very soon" and that he "actually look(s) forward to taking them off".
G7 was 'friendly': Trump maintained he had a productive meeting with G7 leaders over the weekend.
He insisted he has a good relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite admitting he "didn't look friendly" in a viral photo of them together.
“Actually we were just talking, the whole group, about something, unrelated to anything," he said about the photo.
When asked about his stoush with Justin Trudeau, he said he had a good relationship with the Canadian leader. But he said Trudeau's comments will cost Canada "a lot".
"I’ll be honest, we are being taken advantage of by virtually every one of those countries," he said, claiming the US has a trade deficit close to $US100 billion with Canada.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump, seated at right, during the G7 Leaders Summit in Canada. Source: Jesco Denzel/German Federal Government via AP
Behind the scenes: Of his meeting with Kim, Trump said: "From the beginning, we got along".
The 71-year-old earlier boasted that he would know within seconds if he was able to make a deal with Kim.
“You know in the first second. Ok sometimes that doesn’t work out, but sometimes it does," Trump said when asked about the comments.
Follow-up talks: Trump said follow-up US-North Korea talks would take place.
Wrapping up: Trump ended the press conference by saying the summit has been a significant event in world history.
"But I want to get it completed because if we don’t get the ball over the goal line, it doesn’t mean enough,” he said.
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