It's a long road from a handshake to peace with nuclear disarmament. That said, the first meeting ever between a sitting US president and the leader of North Korea Tuesday seemed the best first step possible on that road. Neither Donald Trump nor Kim Jong-un has been kidding during the month-long lead-up to their summit. This meeting alone makes war in the region unlikely. The mood between the two men and their advisers spoke well for a peaceful future.
The mood was upbeat elsewhere. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he was so excited he could hardly sleep before the summit. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office said he was delighted by the successful start of the summit. The first official response from Asean was a wish for success from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Mr Trump said several times Tuesday that he believes the meetings are the start of a "terrific, successful relationship". Mr Kim, who came up with the idea of the summit, was arguably more thoughtful. He spoke frankly of "wrong behaviours" of the past, neither taking or laying blame. "We have overcome these," he said, matching Mr Trump's optimism in every way.
