Ben Cypher, a Korean War veteran, is glad President Trump pursued the meeting with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un that took place on June 11, 2018.

Local Korean War veterans shared their opinions on today's historic meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, which is the first meeting between a sitting American president and South Korean leader.

Ben Cypher of Saxonburg, who served in Korea in the mid 1950s as a sergeant in the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, said he's glad Trump pursued the meeting with Kim.

“It's something that is long overdue,” he said.

Cypher has a strong distrust for Kim and his motives in agreeing to the meeting with Trump, who he hopes will remain resolute with Kim and not give in to any of the dictator's demands.

Ron Marak of Butler Township, who was a corporal in communications in the U.S. Marines' 2nd Anglico division at the end of the Korean War, said it's great that the two leaders are meeting because millions would die if Kim decides to deploy a nuclear weapon.

He said the citizens of the communist country are hurting due to sanctions against North Korea, and relaxing those sanctions due to denuclearization would be helpful to them.

Damien Hambley of Cherry Township was a Navy reservist assigned to damage control in both the Pacific and Atlantic during the Korean War.

Hambley said it will take a tough negotiator to earn concessions from Kim, who he feels cannot be trusted to behave honorably.

“He's doing the right thing,” Hambley said of Trump, “because we need somebody who's strong (to do the negotiating).”

Read what else these veterans said about the meeting in the Eagle.