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Trump-Kim summit to be held on Singapore's Sentosa island | Trump-Kim summit to be held on Singapore's Sentosa island |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The much-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place at a hotel on the Singaporean island of Sentosa, the White House has confirmed. | The much-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place at a hotel on the Singaporean island of Sentosa, the White House has confirmed. |
The historic summit is scheduled to take place on 12 June, but many details are still unconfirmed. | The historic summit is scheduled to take place on 12 June, but many details are still unconfirmed. |
It will be the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president. | It will be the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president. |
Mr Trump said on Tuesday that plans were "moving along very nicely". | Mr Trump said on Tuesday that plans were "moving along very nicely". |
"A lot of relationships being built, a lot of negotiations going on before the trip," he told reporters. | "A lot of relationships being built, a lot of negotiations going on before the trip," he told reporters. |
"It's very important - it'll be a very important couple of days." | "It's very important - it'll be a very important couple of days." |
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed on Twitter that the summit would take place at the five-star Capella Hotel. | White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed on Twitter that the summit would take place at the five-star Capella Hotel. |
Sentosa is one of 63 islands that make up Singapore. | Sentosa is one of 63 islands that make up Singapore. |
The 500-hectare island, only a short distance from the main island, is home to luxury resorts, private marinas and plush golf clubs. | The 500-hectare island, only a short distance from the main island, is home to luxury resorts, private marinas and plush golf clubs. |
But the island also has a dark history of piracy, bloodshed and war. | But the island also has a dark history of piracy, bloodshed and war. |
It was a pirates haunt | It was a pirates haunt |
Singapore was established as a British trading post in the 19th Century. Its prime location on the major sea route between India and China made it an ideal location. | |
But even before British rule, Singapore was a flourishing trade centre, frequented by merchants and traders, as well as pirates. | But even before British rule, Singapore was a flourishing trade centre, frequented by merchants and traders, as well as pirates. |
Sentosa was known at that time as Pulau Blakang Mati, which directly translates as the "island behind death" - a reference to its violent piracy reputation. | Sentosa was known at that time as Pulau Blakang Mati, which directly translates as the "island behind death" - a reference to its violent piracy reputation. |
The island's population was mostly Malay, Chinese and the Bugis - seafarers originally from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. | The island's population was mostly Malay, Chinese and the Bugis - seafarers originally from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. |
It was a World War Two massacre site | It was a World War Two massacre site |
Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, after British colonial forces surrendered. | Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, after British colonial forces surrendered. |
It was given a new Japanese name - Syonan, meaning Light of the South. | It was given a new Japanese name - Syonan, meaning Light of the South. |
Over the next few years, thousands of people were killed under an operation to purge anti-Japanese elements from the ethnic Chinese community. | Over the next few years, thousands of people were killed under an operation to purge anti-Japanese elements from the ethnic Chinese community. |
Chinese men between the ages of 18 and 50 were summoned to various sites before being machine-gunned to death and thrown into the sea. | Chinese men between the ages of 18 and 50 were summoned to various sites before being machine-gunned to death and thrown into the sea. |
Among the massacre sites were the beaches on Sentosa, now overlooked by the Capella hotel where Mr Trump and Mr Kim will meet. | Among the massacre sites were the beaches on Sentosa, now overlooked by the Capella hotel where Mr Trump and Mr Kim will meet. |
Sentosa also hosted a prisoner-of-war camp, which held some 400 Allied troops and gunners. | Sentosa also hosted a prisoner-of-war camp, which held some 400 Allied troops and gunners. |
Tourism boom and fatal accidents | Tourism boom and fatal accidents |
In the 1970s, the Singaporean government renamed the island Sentosa, meaning "peace and tranquillity", and began developing it as a tourism site. | In the 1970s, the Singaporean government renamed the island Sentosa, meaning "peace and tranquillity", and began developing it as a tourism site. |
But the island's problems continued. | But the island's problems continued. |
In 1983, two carriages on the tourist cable car plunged into the sea after an oil drilling vessel struck the ropeway. | In 1983, two carriages on the tourist cable car plunged into the sea after an oil drilling vessel struck the ropeway. |
A water park was opened - Fantasy Island - but was plagued by safety complaints. An eight-year-old girl died there in 2000 when her raft overturned. The park closed in 2002. | A water park was opened - Fantasy Island - but was plagued by safety complaints. An eight-year-old girl died there in 2000 when her raft overturned. The park closed in 2002. |
Sentosa has since re-invented itself as the "State of Fun". A Universal Studios theme park, a new water park and the Resorts World casino draw in thousands of Singaporeans and tourists each year. | Sentosa has since re-invented itself as the "State of Fun". A Universal Studios theme park, a new water park and the Resorts World casino draw in thousands of Singaporeans and tourists each year. |
Playground of the rich and famous | Playground of the rich and famous |
Sentosa is home to one of the country's most prestigious residential enclaves Sentosa Cove, where multi-million dollar homes with yacht docks can be found. | Sentosa is home to one of the country's most prestigious residential enclaves Sentosa Cove, where multi-million dollar homes with yacht docks can be found. |
Golf courses also litter the island along with some of Singapore's most luxurious hotels and a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants. | Golf courses also litter the island along with some of Singapore's most luxurious hotels and a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants. |
So why Sentosa? | So why Sentosa? |
The island's location, just off the mainland, makes it a secure venue. | The island's location, just off the mainland, makes it a secure venue. |
Access to the island can easily be secured - there's just a cable car, a monorail, a pedestrian causeway and a vehicle tunnel. | Access to the island can easily be secured - there's just a cable car, a monorail, a pedestrian causeway and a vehicle tunnel. |
And should the world leaders want a break from their historic talks, did we mention the golf courses? | And should the world leaders want a break from their historic talks, did we mention the golf courses? |