North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared in a joint statement Friday that “a new era of peace has begun” in Korea.
“There will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula,” the statement read. Kim and Moon met for the first time at a historic summit on South Korean soil Friday. There were handshakes and hugs, shocking scenes given that this time last year, the nuclear sword of Damocles hung not only over Korea, but the world.
“South and North Korea will actively cooperate to establish a permanent and solid peace regime on the Korean peninsula,” Friday’s joint statement further explained. “Bringing an end to the current unactual state of armistice and establishing a robust peace regime on the Korean peninsula is a historical mission that must not be delayed any further.”
In their joint statement, the two Korean leaders expressed a desire for closer diplomatic ties, the cessation of hostilities and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through phased disarmament, meetings with China and the U.S. to finally end the Korean War, the transformation of the heavily-fortified demilitarized zone into a peace zone, and the reunification of Korean families torn apart by the war. The two Koreas also agreed to more frequent exchanges and the fielding of unified teams at international sporting events.
Moon agreed to visit Pyongyang in the fall for further negotiations with Kim. The two Koreas “will be reunited as one country,” the North Korean leader said in a separate speech.
While historically significant, the joint statement did not include any clear timetable for a lot of the stated goals. Nonetheless, President Donald Trump, who will also meet Kim, appears quite satisfied with the latest developments on the peninsula.
After a furious year of missile launches and Nuclear testing, a historic meeting between North and South Korea is now taking place. Good things are happening, but only time will tell!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2018
KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2018
Trump credits himself for the changes in Korea, and Moon has also thanked the president. Kim naturally credits himself, praising North Korea’s courage and goodwill for shifts on the Korean Peninsula.
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