South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un burst into laughter as they talk ahead of a landmark summit at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.(Yonhap/IANS)
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The agreement was part of a joint declaration issued after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit earlier in the day at the truce border village of Panmunjom….reports Asian lite News
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (7th from L), his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un (6th from L) and their entourages pose after a tree-planting ceremony to mark their historic talks at the truce village of Panmunjom (Yonhap/IANS)
Seoul and Pyongyang on Friday agreed to work together to realise a “complete” denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula following a historic summit between the two countries’ leaders that came after a gap of over a decade.
The agreement was part of a joint declaration issued after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit earlier in the day at the truce border village of Panmunjom.
“South and North Korea affirmed their shared objective of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearisation,” said the declaration signed by both the leaders.
The two leaders pose beside a commemorative cornerstone after a tree-planting ceremony to mark their historic talks at the truce village of Panmunjom (Yonhap/IANS)
They shared the view that the recent steps that the North had taken were “very meaningful” and “important” for denuclearisation efforts and agreed to do their respective part in that matter, the declaration said.
The two Koreas had earlier agreed to denuclearise their countries and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula in their two previous summits held in 2000 and 2007.
The talks began at 10.15 a.m., about 45 minutes after Kim crossed the MDL, becoming the first North Korean leader to do so since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
“It is good to see you,” Kim said to Moon, waiting just south of the MDL for their first-ever encounter that was quickly followed by a handshake.
Moon Jae-in (R) and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un shake hands across the military demarcation line prior to Kim’s crossing into the South for talks at the Peace House of the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018. (Yonhap/IANS)
“I cannot stop my excitement as we meet here at such a historical place. Also, it is very moving that you, Mr. President, have come to Panmunjom, the demarcation line, to greet me,” the North Korean leader said.
Kim surprised many by inviting Moon to briefly cross the inter-Korean border to the North Korean side, which South Korean officials said was not pre-arranged.
Moon expressed his gratitude to Kim for agreeing to hold the summit.
“The moment Chairman Kim crossed the Military Demarcation Line, Panmunjom became a symbol of peace, not a symbol of division. I wish to again express my respect to Chairman Kim Jong-un’s decision that made today’s discussions possible,” the President said
Moon Jae-in (4th from L) and Kim Jong-un (5th from L) pose for a photo with their entourages after a ceremony to welcome Kim prior to their talks at the Peace House of the truce village of Panmunjom (Yonhap/IANS)
The summit came amid thawing ties this year that followed heightening tensions between the Koreas, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Pyongyang staged nearly a dozen missile tests since Moon took office in May 2017, while also conducting its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September.
Friday’s summit marked the third inter-Korean summit and the first to be held in South Korea.
The two leaders hold talks at the Peace House of the truce village of Panmunjom (Yonhap/IANS)
The leaders’ talks ended shortly before noon. Kim returned to his country in a black limousine that crossed the inter-Korean border while surrounded by nearly a dozen North Korean guards.
He will cross the inter-Korean border again later in the day for various events that will include a friendship walk with Moon.
Moon will host a welcoming dinner later in the day for Kim and possibly his wife, Ri Sol-ju.
Panmunjom: South Korean activists hold a news conference at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on April 27, 2018, to wish for the success of a landmark inter-Korean summit at the truce village of Panmunjom.(Yonhap/IANS)
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un head to a summit site at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.(Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: South Korean President Moon Jae-in leaves his office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 27, 2018, as he heads to the truce village of Panmunjom for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.(Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: South Korean President Moon Jae-in meets with well-wishers near his office in Seoul on April 27, 2018, as he heads to the truce village of Panmunjom for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un pose for a photo after the latter crossed the inter-Korean border for talks at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018(Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: South Korean President Moon Jae-in (4th from L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (5th from L) pose for a group photo with their aides at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018, ahead of a landmark summit. (Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his entourage walk down from Panmungak Pavilion in the North to cross the inter-Korean border for talks with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.(Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of a landmark summit at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018. (Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un leaves a message in a guest book ahead of a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.(Yonhap/IANS)
Panmunjom: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa ahead of a landmark summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.(Yonhap/IANS)
