Watch Kim Jong Un get a rock star welcome in Singapore

Kim Jong Un arrives in Singapore. — (Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/Sarah Blake)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received a superstar's welcome in Singapore on Monday, where his arrival was greeted by cheers and shouts of "Mr. Kim! Mr. Kim!" The reception is particularly startling as Kim is heavily criticized by international bodies and human rights organizations for running "one of the most repressive authoritarian states in the world."

"Unclear if [the people cheering] have ever read the news, ever," tweeted CNN's MJ Lee.

Administration officials have told NBC News that President Trump does not plan to discuss human rights at his summit with Kim on Tuesday.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.