Korean-Americans react with a mixture of optimism and caution following Trump-Kim summit
The encounter between Trump and Kim Jong-un led to a joint statement in which both countries pledged to pursue the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula
Korean-Americans in the Los Angeles area, which has the largest number of Koreans outside Asia, appeared cautiously optimistic on Tuesday following the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“It was a good meeting,” said Yuri Kim as she stood outside the South Korean consulate in Koreatown, holding her two-year-old son in her arms. “It’s just the beginning I hope.”
Kim, who immigrated to the United States four years ago, said she was hopeful the unprecedented summit between the two leaders will lead to the denuclearisation of North Korea.
“I don’t know much about him but he doesn’t commit to big corporations because he’s rich, he doesn’t have a political background, he doesn’t need to persuade his party,” she said, referring to Trump.
As to Kim Jong-un, she believes that since his meeting with his South Korean counterpart “he’s trustable and consistent.”
Kwang Yoon, a 59-year-old engineer, said the summit marked a “first step” toward a lasting peace.
“I’m excited but you can’t solve everything in one time,” he said. “If you don’t [talk], you get into many misunderstandings.”
The encounter between Trump and Kim Jong-un led to a joint statement in which both countries pledged to pursue the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.