Donald Trump, the former reality television star with a knack for theatrics, tried a dose of Hollywood drama as he sought to sway North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their historic summit.
Using an iPad, the US president said he showed Mr Kim a short video made on his behalf, laying out the opportunities that could come with an agreement to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear arsenal — a story about “two men, two leaders, one destiny”.
Reminiscent of a movie trailer, the film shows images of warplanes and artillery while a narrator suggests in English and Korean that “a new world can begin today, one of friendship, respect and goodwill”.
“We had it made up. I showed it to him today, actually during the meeting, toward the end of the meeting, and I think he loved it,” Mr Trump said during a news conference.
A STORY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR NORTH KOREA
This is the video President Trump shared with Chairman Kim at the historical Singapore Summit….
Posted by The White House on Tuesday, June 12, 2018
The video was broadcast on big screens at the start of Tuesday’s press conference.
The US president said the video was played for about eight members of the North Korean delegation, “and I thought they were fascinated by it”, adding: “That could very well be the future.”
“I showed it because I really want him to do something.”
Long an authoritarian state, North Korea has used propaganda films to shape public perception of its leaders, often portraying Mr Kim and his family as gods.
The current leader’s father, Kim Jong Il, was a long-time movie buff who had thousands of titles in his film collection and once led North Korea’s ministry of propaganda.
Here is the video, “A Story of Opportunity” that I shared with Kim Jong-un at the #SingaporeSummit➡️https://t.co/43oOci4jvo pic.twitter.com/xBKFkDLtj7
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2018
Mr Trump, who starred on NBC reality show The Apprentice before entering politics, told reporters he was “not concerned at all” that the film could be used as propaganda, adding: “We could use that video for other countries.”
During their exchanges, Mr Kim seemed to buy into the cinematography of their unlikely meeting, saying through a translator: “Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a … science fiction movie.”
The short film sought to place Mr Kim as a central character in a key moment in history.
Against a piercing musical score, the narrator asks: “What if? Can history be changed? Will the world embrace this change? And when can this moment in history begin?
“It comes down to a choice, on this day, in this time, at this moment, the world will be watching, listening, anticipating, hoping.”
The video suggests Mr Kim could “be the hero of his people. Will he shake the hand of peace and enjoy prosperity like he has never seen, a great life, or more isolation? Which path will be chosen?”
The narrator references some of Mr Trump’s main arguments, namely that Mr Kim eliminating his nuclear stockpile would allow his country to benefit economically and re-enter the world community.
The trailer portrays the pair as the two leading characters of the film — but the outcome is unknown.
The narrator says the film is “featuring President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un, in a meeting to remake history, to shine in the sun, one moment, one choice, what if? The future remains to be written.”