So many firsts happening in just one day — earlier in the day, we received North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un at Changi Airport, the first-ever visit from a North Korean leader, and now, Kim has met with our Prime Minister.

The historic meeting took place at the Istana on Sunday, June 10, mere hours after Kim disembarked from an Air China plane at Changi Airport and travelled in a hefty motorcade to the St Regis Hotel, where he's staying for the duration of his trip here.

Shook hands with various Ministers & political office holders

The Prime Minister's Office shared a four-minute live video of the first few minutes of PM Lee's meeting with Kim on his Facebook page, that showed them doing all the diplomatic things: walking, posing together for pictures and sitting down for a short chat.

Kim also shook hands with a number of Singapore officials including Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman, and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and Culture, Community and Youth Sim Ann.

They were all pretty excited to post photos of their historic few-second encounters with him:

https://www.facebook.com/SimAnn.SG/photos/a.717618351622852.1073741991.174919765892716/1891069527611056/?type=3Kim was accompanied by his own officials, who alongside the Singapore political office-holders joined his meeting with PM Lee.

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Thanks on both sides

Speaking in Korean, and with the aid of a translator, he said:

"The entire world is focusing on the historic Summit between the DPRK and the U.S., and thanks to your sincere efforts... we were able to complete the preparations for the historic summit, and I would like to thank you for that."

In reply, Lee said:

"Thank you for coming to Singapore. Thank you also for asking to hold your Summit in Singapore. We have been following developments on the Korean Peninsula for a very long time."

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders discussed Singapore-DPRK relations, developments in the DPRK and regional developments, including the recent positive developments on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee also wished Kim success for the US-DPRK Summit, and expressed hope that it will advance the prospects for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the larger region.

Here's the MFA's statement in full:

"Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un today. This is the first meeting between the two leaders.

Prime Minister Lee welcomed Chairman Kim to Singapore. Prime Minister Lee and Chairman Kim discussed Singapore-DPRK relations, developments in the DPRK and regional developments, including the recent positive developments on the Korean Peninsula. Prime Minister Lee complimented the bold and admirable decision by Chairman Kim and President of the United States Donald Trump to come together for this Summit.

Chairman Kim thanked Prime Minister Lee for Singapore’s hosting of the U.S.-DPRK Summit. Prime Minister Lee wished Chairman Kim success for the U.S.-DPRK Summit and expressed hope that the U.S.-DPRK meeting will advance the prospects for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the larger region.

Chairman Kim is in Singapore to attend the U.S.-DPRK Summit with President Trump on 12 June 2018."

PM Lee is also slated to meet with the other participant in the summit, U.S. President Donald Trump, after his expected arrival in Singapore on the night of June 10.

What a day. And what a week to come.

Here's PM Lee's post from his meeting with Kim on Sunday:

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Top image via PM Lee's Facebook page