Trump Effect: South Korea Thanks US President Donald Trump As Kim Jong-Un Literally Sets Foot In The South

In a highly symbolic and choreographed moment, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un today (27 April) stepped into South Korea to hold a summit with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in, as reported by the BBC.

Kim Jong-un crossed into South Korea through the Korean demilitarised zone where he was welcomed by the South Korean premier. The two posed for photographs on both sides of the Military Demarcation Line, with the current bonhomie coming less than a year after an almost warlike situation between the countries.

The South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has credited United States (US) President Donald Trump for the breakthrough, with peace between the Koreas now seeming more realistic than ever.

"Clearly, credit goes to President Trump. He's been determined to come to grips with this from day one," Kang said.

The unexpected enthusiasm from the North Korean side, however, is also being viewed sceptically by several analysts. The North Korean leader is being accompanied by nine officials for the summit on the South Korean side, including his influential and powerful sister Kim Yo-jung.

North Korea is under heavy sanctions for its nuclear tests last year, after which the US President had promised "fire and fury like the world has never seen" in the Korean peninsula.

The South Korean foreign minister has said that the sanctions will not be eased until the North takes "visible, meaningful steps" toward denuclearisation.