
Incoming White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham was in an 'all out brawl' with North Koreans ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un as she tried to get the US press pool into position.

Grisham, who officially starts on Monday, joined the President on his trip to the G20 summit in Japan - and was with him for his historic walk from the DMZ into North Korean territory on Sunday.

But she has come out of the meeting with bruises after a scuffle between reporters and security guards from the secretive state as they tried to block the press.

Incoming White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham was in an 'all out brawl' with North Koreans during the meeting President Trump and Kim Jong Un as she tried to get the US press pool into position

The jostling grew especially intense as reporters tried to enter a room inside Freedom House on the southern side of Panmunjom, where Trump and Kim were meeting after exchanging initial handshakes on the border.

North Korean guards tried to physically prevent members of the US press pool from entering the space, pushing and shoving and causing the Secret Service to intervene.

The press secretary was involved in an 'all out brawl', according to CNN, as she shouted 'go, go' to journalists as she created a path for them.

She reportedly came out of the meeting with bruises after a scuffle between reporters and security guards from the secretive state as they tried to block the press

The jostling grew especially intense as reporters tried to enter a room inside the Freedom House on the southern side of Panmunjom where Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un were meeting after exchanging initial handshakes on the border

Ms Grisham, 42, served as Trump's travelling press aide during his presidential campaign and press secretary to first lady Melania Trump

President Trump was stood waiting for Kim Jong Un ahead of their meeting today, Jong Un was seen marching towards Mr Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom

Trump and Kim meet at the DMZ, but what is it and why was it created? The demilitarised zone spits the Korean peninsula in half – subsequently creating a buffer zone between North and South Korea – and is the most militarised border in the world. It incorporates territory on both sides of the cease-fire lines which existed at the end of the Korean War which took place between 1950 and 1953. It was created in 1953 by an agreement between North Korea and the People’s Republic of China, along with the United Nations Command. Located within the territory is the so-called ‘truce village’ of P’anmunjom – the rest of the land is relatively untouched and is one of the most undeveloped areas in Asia. Over the years there have been occasional issue but no major conflicts and in 2007 a limited freight-train service as resumed across the zone. Advertisement

But Grisham, 42, appeared to be okay, ignoring the scrap in a tweet on Sunday: 'Unbelievable to watch our @potus @realdonaldtrump work so hard on behalf of this country over the past few days (and always!) History was made today - honored to witness it.'

The fracas between the Americans and North Koreans came at an odd time - during a meeting that was supposed to promote peace between the two nations.

President Trump took the historic walk from the DMZ into North Korean territory in order to embark on a meeting with Korean dictator Kim Jong-un today.

The pair greeted each other with a handshake and President Trump was hailed as 'courageous' by the North Korean leader.

The meeting between the two appeared to have been organised yesterday through Twitter.

Trump praised the 'power' of Kim's voice – then criticised predecessor and faulted the media for down-playing his achievements.

Kim told Trump through a translator after smiling during their initial handshake: 'This has a lot of significance because it means that we want to bring an end to the unpleasant past and try to create a new future, so it's a very courageous and determined act.'

He added: 'You're the first US president to cross this line.'

Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump shake hands during a meeting on the south side of the Military Demarcation Line in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom

White House Senior Advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, walk in the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone, South Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, alongside US President Donald J. Trump (L), at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone, which separates the two Koreas

Photographers run as North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump cross south of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea, after Trump briefly stepped over to the northern side, in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised zone (DMZ)

President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, June 30, 2019

AT THE DMZ: U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are seen at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, June 30, 2019

During the key moment – filmed and photographed from both directions – Trump slowly approached the concrete barrier, as Kim strode toward him, arms moving.

The two leaders shook hands at 3.45pm local time above the low concrete barrier that marks the line of demarcation.

'Good to see you again,' Kim said,' after they met during a summit in Hanoi that ended without agreement. 'I never expected to meet you at this place.'

Trump confirmed he has invited the North Korean leader to visit the US, although with statements that were conflicting.

He said the visit would happen 'at the right time,' but also said it could occur 'any time' Kim wanted.

Trump later tweeted: 'Leaving South Korea after a wonderful meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un. Stood on the soil of North Korea, an important statement for all, and a great honor!'

President Donald Trump views North Korea from the Korean Demilitarised Zone from Observation Post Ouellette at Camp Bonifas in South Korea

Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in broke the news of the Kim meeting. They are pictured at a news conference at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea

President Trump also weaved in his North Korea policy with attacks on the 'fake news' ahead of the highly-anticipated meeting

Grisham served as Trump's travelling press aide during his presidential campaign and was press secretary to first lady Melania Trump.

She was announced as the new White House press secretary and communications director on Tuesday, following the departure of Sarah Sanders, who had strained relations with the press and left office on Friday.

First Lady Melania was the first to announce Grisham's appointment.

In a tweet on Tuesday, she wrote: 'She has been with us since 2015 - @potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country.

'Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse.'

First Lady Melania announced Grisham's appointment in a tweet, in a rare moment where she upstaged her husband

The president said later in the Oval Office that Grisham is 'very talented' and beloved by the first lady and her colleagues.

He claimed everyone he asked, including the competition, said Grisham is the best person for the job.

'Done a fantastic job. The first lady loves her. I think she's been, you know, just incredible. She's very talented,' he said.

Trump said less than 24 hours beforehand that he was considering four or five different candidates to replace Sanders.

'Replacing Sarah is not going to be easy,' the president told The Hill during an Oval Office interview, 'a lot of people want the job. We have four or five people that really want it, very good people, very good names.'

The president described Sanders as 'irreplaceable,' and joked that he would eventually 'move on' from her during the discussion on Monday.

'Sarah has done a fantastic job, she'll be governor. She won't talk to us anymore,' he said.

At the time, he did not name potential replacements, but Grisham was assumed to be a frontrunner alongside Principal Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley.

Trump claimed on Tuesday in the Oval, with Gidley at his side, that his top deputy recommended Grisham for the job that he had also indicated he wanted.

'So I offered her the job this morning and she accepted. And the first lady is very happy for her. It's a big job. It's a big job.

'But we think Stephanie is going to do a fantastic job. And Hogan is going to be with her. Hogan is one of the people that recommended her,' the president said.

Putting Gidley on the spot, he said, 'Here's Hogan. He recommended her very strongly. I said, 'Hogan who do you think?' He said, 'Stephanie Grisham.''

Trump announced on Twitter on June 13 that Sanders would be leaving her post at the end of June, and that same day she took the podium during a White House event to give a teary-eyed goodbye.

She thanked the president for the opportunity to serve as his spokeswoman for the last two years, and Trump kissed her on the cheek and then they embraced.

Sanders has served in the Trump White House since his inauguration, and previously was a top deputy in the press office.

'She's done an incredible job. We've been through a lot together. She's tough and she's good,' Trump gushed in remarks before she took the podium to speak, adding that she is a 'warrior.'

He gave a similar tribute to Sanders at an Orlando campaign rally, where she took the mic to praise her boss.

One person familiar with the process told DailyMail.com in the following days that that Grisham or Gidley was likely to get Sanders' large West Wing office and her old job.

'Whomever he decides to go with, it's a very public face and gives voice to the administration and to the public,' the person said.

The source said it is up to the chief of staff and the White House press secretary with 'so much action' taking place in the West Wing to act as the president's gatekeeper and help determine 'what comes in and stay outs.'

Among the qualities Trump was said to be considering was the 'personal connection' between himself and the person expected to disseminate his message.

'They know my voice, and they're going to know what I want to say and how to say it,' the person said of the process.

That he settled on Grisham was no surprise to former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who told DailyMail.com, 'She's a great pick.

'She has both the respect of the president and first lady as well as a deep understanding of the needs of White House reporters gained through her time in the campaign, transition and first two plus years of this White House.'

Trump cited those same qualities in an Oval Office appearance as he commented for the first time on Grisham's promotion.

He said: 'And I asked so many people, who do you like? A lot of people wanted the job, a lot of people wanted to do it. And I'd as people, who do you like? And so many people said Stephanie.

'And, she's here, she know everybody. She actually gets along with the media very well, as you know. A lot of folks in the media like her very much.'

Grisham was a spokesman for the president in 2016.

She was briefly a deputy press secretary in the West Wing, where she had a first floor office, before taking the job as the fist lady's top communications aide shortly after Trump took office.

That put her in the East Wing and out of reporters' reach.

But she was known for having positive relationships with reporters and as a zealous defender of the president's wife.

Grisham said it was 'sad' when women who co-host 'The View' suggested the first lady does not want to spend time with her husband.

She said at the time: 'I've always found it sad that a group of women spend so much time attacking another woman, whose only goal is to help children.'

And she swatted back at Vogue editor Anna Wintour, when she indicated that she would not want the first lady on the cover of Vogue.

'She's been there, done that long before she was first lady,' Melania's spokesman said.

Prior to joining the Trumps, she worked in Arizona politics, most recently in the state legislature, as the spokeswoman for the then-speaker of the Arizona House.

She has two children, one of whom is still in grade school and lives with her in Washington.

She described herself in a Fox 10 interview early in the administration as single mother.