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Trump and Kim: From threats of war to hopes for peace, in photos

Kim Jong-un ad Moon Jae-in embrace before a blue-green background.
Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in embrace. Photo: Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images

In a matter of months, Kim Jong-un and President Trump went from threatening nuclear destruction to planning a face-to-face meeting.

November 2016: Obama warns Trump about North Korea

Trump and Obama.
November, 2016: When Trump visited the White House after his election, Obama told him North Korea was the biggest threat he'd face. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

February 2017: The first test of Trump's presidency

Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump at table in Mar-A-Lago.
North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Trump at Mar-A-Lago. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Kim Jong-un looks through binoculars.
Kim Jong-un inspecting the test-launch. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

April 2017: Trump pressures China to step up on North Korea

...and North Korea displays its might

Green and brown colored missiles in North Korea.
North Korea hosts a military parade and displays iapparent ballistic missiles in Pyongyang. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

June 2017: Otto Warmbier dies

Otto Warmbier is flanked by two North Koreans.
American student Otto Warmbier died in Cincinnati following 17 months of detention in North Korea. Photo: Xinhua/Lu Rui via Getty Images

July 2017: Tests ramp up

Missile in orange lighting.
North Korea's first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile test in July, 2017. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

August: Trump threatens "fire and fury"

September 2017: Kim Jong-un launches most powerful nuclear test yet

The details.

...calls Trump a "dotard"

Quote“I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire."
— Kim Jong-un on Trump

...and Trump calls Kim "little Rocket Man"

January 2018: Kim tests diplomatic waters

Kim Jong-un on tv.
Kim threatens the U.S. in a New Year's Day speech by noting he has a so-called "nuclear button" on his desk and then flips the script and says he is “open to dialogue” with Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

...And Trump keeps the pressure on

Otto Warmbier's parents, Cindy and Fred, are recognized at Trump's State of the Union address.
Otto Warmbier's parents, Cindy and Fred, are honored at Trump's first State of the Union Address. Trump also honored a man who escaped North Korea. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

February 2018: North Korea launches charm offensive with sports diplomacy

South and North Koreans walk together at the Opening Ceremony wearing all white.
North and South Koreans walk together with the Unity Flag at the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Mike and Karen Pence wearing U.S. Olympic clothes with Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jung sitting behind them.
Mike and Karen Pence attend the Olympics. Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jung sat behind them. Photo: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images.

March 2018: Trump accepts Kim's invitation to meet

Three South Korean officials stand around microphones in the dark outside the White House.
South Korea's national security advisor, Chung Eui-Yong, announces at the White House that Kim wants to meet with Trump, and Trump has accepted the invitation. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

March 2018: Kim Jong-un makes secret trip to China

Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping shake hands in front of red flags.
Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping shake hands. Photo: Xinhua/Ju Peng via Getty Images

April 2017: Trump sends CIA Director to Pyongyang

Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong-un shake hands.
Then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong-un during a secret visit to Pyongyang, allegedly over Easter weekend. Photo: The White House via Getty Images

...and Kim meets with Moon Jae-in in South Korea

Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in hug each other before a blue-green background.
Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in hug each other after saying they want to work towards peace and denuclearization on the peninsula. Photo: Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images
North Korea