Trump-Kim summit: N Korean leader unwinds self in Singapore sightseeing

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unwinded himself on the eve of his historic summit with US President Donald Trump by going for sightseeing in Singapore on Monday, June 11.

Kim reportedly did not leave his hotel, St Regis Singapore, till Monday night when suddenly his officials showed signs of urgency and the leader left in a black limousine with his accompanying sister Kim Yo Jong and other aides.

Kim did not hold back from surprising people as he visited some of the city-state's renowned tourist spots like Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands and even took selfies with local top politicians like Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.

Media analysts said Kim, 34, was trying to relax after a long journey and ahead of a high-pressure meeting with Trump, a mercurial individual, who also flew down a long way from Canada after attending a tense G7 summit. The two met Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and will meet each other at the Capella Hotel in Singapore's Sentosa Islands.

Kim's sudden arrival the popular spots left those presence excited but they could not click his pictures because of a dense security shield accompanying the leader and his entourage.

While returning to the hotel, Kim also took a walk near the Merlion, Singapore's famous icon.

This is only the fifth time that Kim has publicly set his foot outside North Korea. The four other occasions were his visit to China and South Korea two times each - all since March this year - to engage with the top leaders of those countries in the run-up to his summit with Trump.

Singapore is the furthest the man has travelled since taking over the reins of North Korea in December 2011, after the death of his father Kim jong-Il.