An Australian comedian known for impersonating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he was detained by Singapore's authorities on Friday and questioned about his political views. The incident came just days before the city-state hosts high stakes talks between the US and North Korea's leaders. Howard X, who declined to give his real name, claimed he was detained for two hours and grilled on his political stance for 30 minutes when he arrived in the early morning hours at Singapore's Changi Airport. "(They) asked me what my political views were and if I have been involved with protests in other countries," he said, adding that he was told to stay away from Sentosa Island and the Shangri-La, two areas that are designated 'special event areas' for the summit. "They said, 'It's the Trump-Kim summit, you've come at a very sensitive time.'" Singapore's immigration and checkpoints authority and the Singapore police have not yet commented on the incident.<doc-sep>Kim Trump summit: S Korean reporters arrested over N Korea 'trespass' Published 8 June 2018 image copyright AFP/Getty image caption Reporters have also been camping out outside the hotel North Korean officials are staying in Singapore police have arrested two South Korean journalists who are accused of trespassing in the home of the North Korean ambassador ahead of next week's Trump-Kim summit. Police said they were called to the residence on Thursday afternoon. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will land in Singapore on Sunday, Reuters quoted a source as saying. Mr Trump has said he will consider inviting Mr Kim to the White House if the Singapore meeting goes well. The US president is also due to arrive in Singapore on Sunday. The US and its regional allies want to see North Korea give up its nuclear weapons but Mr Trump has acknowledged that it "will take longer" than one meeting to realise that goal. What do we know about the arrests? Singapore police said on Facebook that two South Koreans aged 42 and 45 working for South Korean broadcaster KBS had been arrested. Two other South Koreans are under investigation. About 3,000 journalists are expected in Singapore to cover the summit. TWO SOUTH KOREAN MEDIA PERSONNEL ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS On 7 June 2018 at about 3.50pm, the Police received a... Posted by Singapore Police Force on Thursday, June 7, 2018 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original post on Facebook Meanwhile a Mr Kim lookalike said he had been questioned on arrival in Singapore. The Hong Kong-based impersonator calling himself Howard X said on Facebook that he was questioned for two hours by immigration officials. image copyright AFP/Getty image caption Howard X (L) and Trump impersonator Dennis Alan are in Singapore for the summit "They search my bags and then told me that this is a very sensitive time to be in Singapore and that I should stay away from the Sentosa Island as well as the Shangri-La hotel in town," Howard X said. How is Mr Trump preparing for the summit? Mr Trump has previously had a policy of placing "maximum pressure" on North Korea to force it to change course. But on Thursday he said he did not want to use the term any more "because we're going into a friendly negotiation", although he warned he had more sanctions he could use. He also said he was "totally prepared to walk" if the summit did not go well, but if it did go well an invitation to Mr Kim to visit Washington was not out of the question. media caption The three things North Korea wants Earlier, Mr Trump said he did not think preparation was essential for his meeting with the North Korean leader, saying it was more about "attitude" and "willingness to get things done". Mr Trump also dismissed reports that US basketball player Dennis Rodman - who has visited North Korea several times and is a friend of Mr Kim's - had been invited to the summit. media caption Trump-Kim summit: Can you achieve peace on a plate? "I like him. He's a nice guy. No, he was not invited," he said. Hours later, however, Rodman tweeted that he was going to Singapore to "give whatever support is needed to my friends" Mr Trump and Mr Kim. What moves are other countries making? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited Mr Trump, part of a flurry of diplomatic activity in the run-up to the summit as countries try to ensure their interests are not overlooked. On Thursday he said he was confident Mr Trump understood Japan's concerns about its citizens who were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to help train its spies in Japanese language and customs. Mr Abe said he wanted to "directly face North Korea and talk with them so that the abduction problem can be resolved quickly". Please upgrade your browser to view this content. Timeline hide How Trump and Kim have changed their tone What happened next? Show all Was this timeline useful? Yes No Thank you for your feedback. Share this timeline He also reiterated Japan's policy to pursue "real peace" in the region and said if North Korea "is willing to take steps" in the right direction it has a "bright future ahead". Meanwhile Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has visited Mr Kim in Pyongyang, laying the groundwork for Mr Kim to visit President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later this year. Mr Kim has also had two meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who in turn has visited Mr Trump in Washington.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email A Kim Jong Un lookalike was detained and questioned upon his arrival in Singapore on Friday, days before a summit between the North Korean leader and President Donald Trump. The Hong Kong-based impersonator, who uses the name Howard X, is in the city-state for summit-related promotions by a mall and seafood restaurant. He said the police officers who stopped him at Singapore’s Changi Airport searched his bags and questioned him for about two hours before letting him go. He said he was told to stay away from Sentosa Island and the Shangri-La Hotel. READ MORE: Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un impersonators spotted at Olympics opening ceremony Kim and Trump are to meet Tuesday at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island and Trump is expected to stay at the Shangri-La during his visit to Singapore. Story continues below advertisement The impersonator, whose real name is Lee Howard Ho Wun, said police asked if he had been involved in protests around the world, including those by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said he told them he had been at the scene of Hong Kong demonstrations as a musician playing the drums. “However, I never rioted and don’t plan to ever riot. I told him (police officer) that I … would never do this in Singapore because it is against your rules to protest,” Lee told The Associated Press. Kim Jong Un impersonator Howard X and Donald Trump impersonator Dennis Alan pose for photographs during their visit to the Merlion Park, a popular tourist destination in Singapore, June 8, 2018. AP Photo/Wong Maye-E WATCH: North Korean cheerleaders caught off guard by fake Kim Jong Un 0:35 North Korean cheerleaders caught off guard by fake Kim Jong Un North Korean cheerleaders caught off guard by fake Kim Jong Un – Feb 14, 2018 In a statement, Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said Wun was interviewed for about 45 minutes. Story continues below advertisement “As part of the immigration clearance process, travelers to Singapore may be subject to additional interviews and/or screening. These procedures are conducted at all Singapore’s checkpoints,” the authority said. Demonstrations in Singapore can only be held in a designated area, the 2.4-acre (0.9-hectare) Hong Lim Park, and require park approval. All other gatherings require a police permit. READ MORE: Massive Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un floats feature in carnival parade in Nice, France Later Friday, Howard X and Dennis Alan, a Trump impersonator, held hands and walked around Merlion Park, a popular tourist destination. They posed with mock chili and black pepper crab dishes and took photographs with curious passers-by. “I’m here to stay. I don’t think they will try and kick out the president. It wouldn’t be good press for Singapore,” Lee said. “Nobody started talking about a meeting between Kim Jong Un and President Trump until we suggested it at the Olympics,” Alan added, referring to their appearance at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February. “It all started with us. If there’s a peace prize that anybody should get, we should get it,” he quipped. WATCH: Dennis Rodman to head for Singapore for Trump Kim summit in Singapore to lend support 1:11 Dennis Rodman to head for Singapore for Trump Kim summit in Singapore to lend support Dennis Rodman to head for Singapore for Trump Kim summit in Singapore to lend support – Jun 8, 2018 Indonesian Janette Warokka thought the impersonators were the real deal. Story continues below advertisement “It’s so shocking for me. I don’t know why those two famous guys come here,” she said. Raul Rio, a teacher from Texas, managed to take a selfie with the pair. “They certainly look like the real ones. It was fun to see them,” he said.<doc-sep>
An Australian comedian known for impersonating the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, said he was detained by Singapore’s authorities on Friday and questioned about his political views. Singapore’s immigration and checkpoints authority and the Singapore police did not immediately comment. The incident came days before the city-state hosts high-stakes talks between Kim and the US president, Donald Trump. Howard X, who declined to give his real name, told Reuters he was detained for two hours and questioned for about 30 minutes when he arrived in the early hours at Singapore’s Changi airport. “[They] asked me what my political views were and if I have been involved with protests in other countries,” he said, adding that he was told to stay away from Sentosa island and the Shangri-La hotel, which have been designated “special event areas” for the summit. “They said: ‘It’s the Trump-Kim summit, you’ve come at a very sensitive time.’” Howard X was in Singapore late last month, posing as Kim Jong-un against a backdrop of the city’s bay, which features sites such as the Merlion and the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel. 00:23 Kim Jong-un impersonator Howard X in Singapore last month - video He said he was planning similar stunts for the purpose of political satire in the coming days, this time in tow with Donald Trump impersonator Dennis Alan. He said he was not planning any protests. Rights groups have criticised Singapore’s laws, which they say limit critical speech and peaceful assembly. Protests have to be pre-approved and are allowed only at a designated downtown area called the Speakers’ Corner. Singapore has held the position that its laws and regulations are needed to maintain social order and harmony. Meanwhile, police said on Friday that two South Korean media staff had been arrested for trespassing at the home of the North Korean ambassador to Singapore. Police said the men, who were arrested on Thursday, were from the Korean Broadcasting System News. A third man from the broadcaster and a fourth who was acting as a guide and interpreter were also under investigation.