SINGAPORE -At the close of the historic summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday (June 12), Singapore's ministers thanked officers from the security agencies and armed forces for their work in ensuring the event went smoothly.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, in a Facebook post, said Home Team officers had made a tremendous effort to ensure security was good.
He highlighted, in particular, the sacrifices of Muslim officers, who had to handle the demands of the summit while fasting, saying it was "extra difficult for them".
"Salute to all our officers," he added.
The Home Team had deployed 5,000 of its officers for the summit, which came to a close on Tuesday afternoon with Mr Kim, who is Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, giving his "unwavering commitment" to work towards denuclearisation.
They included outriders for the motorcades of the two leaders, and police officers patrolling the areas around Shangri-la Hotel and The St Regis Singapore where both leaders were staying.
Separately, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post that he was proud of the professionalism of the Singapore Armed Forces in ensuring security in the air, land and sea.
"It was 'no duff' because the threats were real - not made easier when the time and place of the summit was broadcast to the world. It should be known to Singaporeans that our SAF troops and platforms were loaded with live ammunition, ready to take out any external threats," he said, using an army term that means an incident was not a drill or training exercise.
"The successful completion of this mission gives confidence that we can protect Singapore, even at short notice," he added.
Among the assets deployed by the SAF were helicopters and ships conducting aerial and maritime patrols around Sentosa as Mr Trump and Mr Kim met on Tuesday at the Capella Singapore hotel.
Said Dr Ng of the summit: "It will be a long road ahead from armistice to peace treaty but at least amity has begun. Singapore has played a small but important role for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, and indeed that of Asia."
His sentiment was shared by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who returned to Singapore on Tuesday from a three-day visit to Japan.
He said on Facebook: "Back to Singapore and visited the Event Command Post as President Trump and Chairman Kim were proceeding for their Summit. Thanks to Singaporeans, public officers, media representatives and our overseas guests who have been working on the summit preparations for the past few weeks.
" Hope this will be a step towards greater peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula."
