are watching live pictures were the two lea d e rs are watching live pictures were the two leaders are meeting. this comes ahead of the meeting between president trump and kim jong—un, the proposed meeting. president trump has come to say it might not happen. aof has come to say it might not happen. a of speculation when, and where that summit will take place. ——a lot of speculation. the new stretch —— secretary of state, mike pompeo. that was kept under wraps for a couple of weeks when he went there over easter on a secret meeting. a secret trip to pyongyang. it's clear from that that president trump's administration is focused and intent on making this work. i think it's been very interesting to see the dynamic change you from last year. after the opening began at the

beginning of january and after the opening began at the beginning ofjanuary and then with the winter olympics, it seems there has been a dramatic change in tone. why that is and of course, we are never quite sure with president trump, but he might change back again, as it does seem to change his mind quite often. but sending his then cia director to pyongyang and in the last few days, talking about wanting a meeting, they want it soon. he seemed to be on board with that. the president seems to think, and again, this is guesswork, he seems to think he is the man who can achieve some sort of breakthrough with north korea, that he is the dealmaker which donald trump sells himself as. if he can get in a room with kim jong—un and talk face—to—face, he can do some sort of deal. he must, in the back of his mind, be thinking of his place in history. what is he going to be able

to point to as his big achievement? achieving peace on the korean peninsula would be huge, massive achievement and undoubtedly, it must be in the back of their minds. for now, thank you so much for that. we can now bring in martin williams, a journalist who has been covering the north korean issue. we have been watching live pictures at the historic moment where moonjae—in and kimjong—un historic moment where moonjae—in and kim jong—un have shaken historic moment where moonjae—in and kimjong—un have shaken hands. kim jong—un has become the first korean dashed north korean leader to ci’oss korean dashed north korean leader to cross the border since the end of the war. this is a historic moment. the third meeting between the leaders of the two countries but the

first time they are meeting in person. martin, thank you for joining us. firstly, give us your assessment and your expectation of this summit. it's an amazing morning so this summit. it's an amazing morning so far. only about five or six months ago that we were talking about the policy —— the possibility of military strikes on north korea. lots of people wondering what that would mean. here we are a few months later and the leaders are shaking hands. it still way too early to know what this will mean. it's to try to get an idea ofjust exactly what north korea is wanting to talk about and what it is willing to offer. that is what a lot of this is going to rest on. importantly, this meeting today is really setting the ground work for the proposed meeting

with donald trump as well. i think kim jong—un wants to meet donald trump and have the legitimacy. he wa nts to trump and have the legitimacy. he wants to sit down and talk to him. if this meeting doesn't go well, it will be on thin ice but if it goes well today, is really working towards that. there is every incentive for the north koreans to say what they need to save to keep things moving forward. in your view, what is really changed his mind? obviously there are many different factors, the economy, achievement as a nuclear state. in your view, what changed his mind to come back to the negotiating table? think at the moment, the nuclear programme is moving forward, not as a fully fledged nuclear system. but this

nuclear programme that has developed enough for the country to be given some respect. that is exactly what has happened. when they demonstrated they could fire these missiles. certainly people started taking the country a lot more seriously. it got kim jong—un that legitimacy he wanted. one of a long—term goals he is certainly is a relaxing of sanctions. over the last few years, sanctions. over the last few years, sanctions have continued and there have been ways around them. actions are have been ways around them. actions a re clearly ratcheted have been ways around them. actions are clearly ratcheted up. i think the economy is starting to hurt as well. one of the immediate goals is to start getting things back in. it's really starting to bite at the moment. would you say all the human

rights allegations we have talked about the many years, that has been on the sideline while this historic summit takes place? nobody wants this summer to go badly. i don't think it's going to be an immediate issue that has to be solved anything to go forward. people want things to move forward. there is no way this will be ignored either. the north korean regime under kimjong—un and his father have been accused of awful human rights abuses. somebody will have to once. at the moment, thatis will have to once. at the moment, that is being put to the side but slightly deemphasised. some steps will be taken forward. especially when you consider, a lot of people are talking about war. today, it's

almost like waiters come off the minds of people. things will get better. it's been deemphasised a little bit. it's a very serious issue. martin williams joining us live. thank you so much for your insight. you are watching bbc world news with our special coverage from the summit. the two leaders of south korea and north korea have met and they are going to start their official summit shortly. we have been watching some live pictures of the welcoming ceremony where they shook hands, they smiled, they held hands together and going back and forth between the north and the south korean sides in the demilitarised zone. joining us live

isjohn delurie, demilitarised zone. joining us live is john delurie, professor demilitarised zone. joining us live isjohn delurie, professor north and south korea relations. -- delury. who could have imagined the four months ago we would be watching this moment? there has been a 180 degrees reversal since last year. why is this happening now? we were talking about war last year and peace this year. the critical factor is kim jong—un and his readiness to do this. to take all of the risks. an incredible level of political risk and symbolically risk. to go to china and come across to south korea and talk to donald trump. it's hard to know what is going on in north korea but just the fact is

to know what is going on in north korea butjust the fact is doing this shows he is comfortable enough with his domestic political power. of course, he tested all these missiles. he tested nuclear devices. he isa missiles. he tested nuclear devices. he is a certain amount of strength and confidence internationally but is ready to go out and diplomatically open up notjust kim jong—un but north korea in diplomatic and economic terms. you called a political risk and security risk. is that because the public in north korea who have been given a very different view of south korea until recently would take this positively? it's a big part of it. you can call him a dictator that at the same time, even the strongest dictator as public opinion and has to keep his elite happy. and the people at large. the north korean system, and i have been there a few

times andi system, and i have been there a few times and i study it, it's a very different system. the media there is com pletely different system. the media there is completely unlike ours. it is highly controlled. it's highly staged in its controlled with certain messages on the primary messages, the whole world is after us, the whole world is that our throats. south korea is hostile, united states is hostile, is even hostile. he's saying, with my leadership, we can break that hostility. we can turn from threats to peace. that is a risk. in terms of his own public consensus. professorjohn delury, they give a joining us. you been watching this special coverage. live pictures from peace house inside the demilitarised zone. hello there. it's been getting

cooler day by day through this weakened by the weekend, temperatures will be below the seasonal average, wet, cold and windy late on sunday. more than that injusta windy late on sunday. more than that injust a moment. we windy late on sunday. more than that in just a moment. we start friday quite a chilly note, some areas a touch of lost in scotland but south, not quite as cold because we have this area of low pressure and outbreaks of rain. quite wet start across south—west england and south wales. the rain starting to push its way into northern and eastern parts of england as the morning wears on we re of england as the morning wears on were as further north, it will start dry with plenty of sunshine. that rain will be in band is moving its way northwards across most of england and wales and the afternoon. few drier interludes, quite strong winds across the channel for the channel islands and the scilly

isles, gusting up to a0 mph. rain heavy into the afternoon. further north, the rain in the far north of england and scotland. quite cool. temperatures of 9— 13 celsius. as we had through friday evening and overnight, the rain peters out will stop further north and west, you can see clear skies with another chilly night. into the weekend, it doesn't look too bad, particularly northern and western parts of the uk. sunshine and showers, quite cool in that northerly breeze. this is the picture to saturday. a damp start across the south—east, some spells of light rain, low cloud, mist and merc. the best of the sun shone across the north and west with a few heavy slow—moving boundary showers. cool again to that time of year. 9—

12 celsius, cool across north—eastern coasts. sunday as well. dry around, variable cloud, bit of sunshine, the wind begins to pick up across the south—east with outbreaks of rain and those temperatures, 9— 11 celsius. chile to late april. wet and windy weather in the south—east. moving north out of the near continent. some atrocious conditions to the south and niche in dash south and east into monday. standing water, gale force, northerly winds, gusting 50 or 60 miles an hour and force, northerly winds, gusting 50 or 60 miles an hourand is force, northerly winds, gusting 50 or 60 miles an hour and is going to feel cold. a bit of wintry nurse. it looks like the north and west will see the best of the ripeness. a cool day across the north. welcome to bbc news.

broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top story this hour: hand in hand, the leaders of north and south korea meet for the first summit between the two countries in more than a decade. kim jong—un becomes the first north korean leader to visit the south since the war ended 65 years ago. right now the two men are now locked in talks, with pyongyang's nuclear ambitions expected to top the agenda. and in other news — bill cosby is found guilty of sexual assault in a retrial of charges brought against him.