In a historic gesture of international diplomacy, US President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to begin a "new friendship" between the two countries.

The summit, which was held in Singapore, ended with the two leaders signing a written agreement that affirmed [Kim's] "firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" and Trump's vow to suspend military exercises between South Korea and the US.

CNN Editor-at-large Chris Cillizza described the atmosphere of the 45-minute meeting as "warm" and "optimistic" – and though the deadlines and details of the document were described as "vague" by The Guardian, the meeting held symbolic significance for the first US president to ever meet with a North Korean head of state.

"The past does not have to define the future," said Trump at a press conference following the talks. "Yesterday's conflict does not have to be tomorrow's war. And as history has proven over and over again, adversaries can indeed become friends."

News outlets have also pointed out the historic significance of the meeting by comparing it to President Ronald Reagan's speech from exactly 31 years ago in which he called for Soviet leader Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," and reunify East and West Berlin.

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