The Portuguese Foreign Minister today welcomed the meeting in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un, which he referred to as a diplomatic victory.
"Portugal thinks that it is good that the summit has taken place, it means that the logic of diplomacy has prevailed over the logic of confrontation, and secondly, it is good that the two leaders have committed themselves to two very important elements," said Augusto Santos Silva.
The minister said the ‘de-nuclearisation’ of the Korean peninsula was, "an essential condition for the peace and lasting security of this peninsula," and "security guarantees and supports the economic development of North Korea."
In a reference to António Guterres, Silva added, "As the Secretary-General of the United Nations said, development is another dimension of peace and security."
Portugal’s Foreign Minister emphasised, not only "the extraordinary role of the President of South Korea and South Korean diplomacy, but also the attitude of China, Japan and Russia that contributed to this outcome."
In his initial statement, Trump said he gave "security assurances" to the Korean Peninsula and in return received the promise of a total de-nuclearisation of the North Korean weapons programme.
"Only the bravest can make peace," said Trump who considered that the negotiations went very smoothly but warned a second meeting with his North Korean counterpart is needed.
Phil Robertson, the Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, commented that the complete absence of references to the human rights issue, in the document that came out of the conference between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, left him and his colleagues "deeply desolate" with the "enormity of the missing theme."
