North Korea says US agreed to lift sanctions in Trump-Kim summit

North Korean state media said on Wednesday the US President Donald Trump had agreed to lift sanctions against the North in addition to providing security guarantees in the summit with the North's leader Kim Jong-un the previous day.

Trump agreed on step-by-step denuclearisation process by North in return for US concessions, the US president was cited by North Korea's official KCNA news agency.

It said Trump made the promise after pledging to end joint military exercises with South Korea, which provoked mixed reaction in the US. 

There was no immediate comment about sanctions from the US side. 

Trump and Kim met in Singapore on Tuesday – an unprecedented encounter that saw the leader of the world's most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations' flags.

Donald Trump's supporters have hailed the summit with Kim Jong-un a triumph in diplomatic relations. But as TRT World's Leone Lakhani reports from Washington, not everyone sees it that way.

Leaders agree to visit each other's country

Kim said it was "urgent" for North Korea and the US to halt "irritating and hostile military actions against each other" during talks on Tuesday with Trump and other US officials, KCNA said.

Kim said both countries should commit to avoid antagonising each other and take legal, institutional steps to guarantee it, the North's state media said.

Kim and Trump invited each other to their respective countries and both leaders "gladly accepted", KCNA reported.

"Kim Jong-un invited Trump to visit Pyongyang at a convenient time and Trump invited Kim Jong-un to visit the US The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA said in a report about the two leaders' meeting in Singapore on Tuesday.

Trump says 'got along great' with Kim

Meanwhile, Trump recapped his Tuesday meeting with Kim in a series of tweets in which he boasted about his relationship with Kim, saying he "got along great" with the North Korean leader.

Trump said Kim "wants to see wonderful things for his country."

Trump didn't offer much assurance on the question of how to confirm that North Korea had complied with any deal.

Trump's said the summit with Kim has helped bring the world back from "nuclear catastrophe."

"The World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe!" Trump tweeted.

"No more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research! The hostages are back home with their families. Thank you to Chairman Kim, our day together was historic!"

TRT World's Jon Brain looks at reaction to the summit.