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| In an historic moment, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un shook hands to begin the Singapore summit. |
Joon Bang, Executive Director of the Korean American Coalition in Los Angeles, attended a watch party with more than 30 other people.
“You know, it was kind of surreal. It was almost like watching a cartoon. It was really a lot to take in, I think,” Bang said to KABC. “”It was a really emotional experience.”
The prospect of peace on the Korean peninsula is something Tony Choi feels Americans who aren’t Korean don’t fully appreciate.
“You don’t have to be fans of Trump and/or Kim Jong Un to support the Korean peace process,” he told HuffPost. “The majority of the Korean people want the peace talks, and I think a lot of people aren’t respecting that. People feel uncomfortable because of who’s doing it.”
Neither Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump have a very good record in upholding promises or abiding by treaties.
Trump withdrew from the TPP treaty, wants a redo with NAFTA, strongly critical of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration and walked away from the Paris accord on climate change.
In Federal Way, Washington, Sara Oh, president of the Federal Way Korean American Association, echoed the feeling that the whole thing is “surreal.”
“The general message is hopeful,” Oh said to the Federal Way Mirror. “It’s something I didn’t think I’d see in my lifetime.”
John Lee is Vice President of the Korean American Association of Chicago. For him, the summit will go a long way in easing political tensions between the North and South.
“We need to relax the tension,” he said to the Daily Journal.
In Federal Way, Washington, Sara Oh, president of the Federal Way Korean American Association, echoed the feeling that the whole thing is “surreal.”
“The general message is hopeful,” Oh said to the Federal Way Mirror. “It’s something I didn’t think I’d see in my lifetime.”
John Lee is Vice President of the Korean American Association of Chicago. For him, the summit will go a long way in easing political tensions between the North and South.
“We need to relax the tension,” he said to the Daily Journal.
"Reunification isn't about policy," journalist Grace Kahng told KGO-TV, "it's about life or death. If the countries don't reunify and the border isn't opened up, then health care services, food and basic needs will not be met by North Koreans and they will die."
Others point out that the impossible has happened before.
“If West and East Germany can unify, then we can certainly wish that Korea will one day be unified,” said Susan Turner, a Korean American.
“If West and East Germany can unify, then we can certainly wish that Korea will one day be unified,” said Susan Turner, a Korean American.
Views From the Edge contributed to this report.
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