PN's Voice 142

Peace Network Korea
PN's Voice 142, 20.09.2018
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PN's Voice No. 142  20 09. 2018 
Small steps, Road to peace

Kim Jong-Un meets S. Korean Special Delegation

Special Focus: Inter-Korean Summit Yesterday (September 19th) the leaders of North and South Korea met for the third time. President Moon of South Korea is in the North on a 3-day trip. Below is a summary of the results of his trip thus far:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to take additional steps towards denuclearization. This has been interpreted by many as an apparent gesture towards Washington to restart its stalled talks. The North also agreed to conditionally permanently shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility, based on the United States following similar conciliatory moves. 

President Moon announced that North Korea agreed to “permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries.” 

Kim and Moon signed a declaration which will open a higher level for the improvement in inter- Korean relations and “bring closer the era of peace and prosperity" Kim Jong Un said. Cheong Wa Dae later released the declaration which showed the North's agreement on denuclearization steps.

Moon stressed that "I hope the talks between the North and the U.S. quickly resume". Trump was quick to respond in welcoming the outcome of the inter-Korean summit in a Twitter message; "Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts.” Trump also indicted to reporters that he intents to meet with Kim again “soon”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also welcomed the North’s signal of restarting talks as he said the United States is prepared to "immediately" engage in talks with North Korea. * Moon is set to visit the United States next week for a bilateral summit with the U.S president where he will likely brief Trump on the outcome of his talks with the North Korean leader, and also aim to facilitate a resumption of the U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks. 

Another outcome of the inter-Korean summit is that both sides have agreed to begin working on reconnecting their severed railways and roads across the heavily fortified border before the year's end. Also, the countries will reopen their joint industrial park in the North's border town of Kaesong and tourism programs to the North's Mount Kumgang as soon as "conditions are met," the agreement said. The Kaesong complex was shut down in early 2016 as part of Seoul's unilateral sanctions against the North. Additionally, to further promote reconciliation, the divided Koreas have agreed to soon establish a new joint facility for more frequent and freer reunions of families separated since the end of the Korean War. 

Yonhap News reported that in a separate agreement signed by their defense chiefs, the Koreas also agreed to a wide range of steps aimed at further reducing military tension on the Korean Peninsula. Such steps include setting up a 10-kilometer buffer zone along their border where all artillery drills or regiment-level field manoeuvres will be prohibited, according to the military agreement. 

The two Koreas will continue to jointly take part in international sporting events, including the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games, the leaders said in their Pyongyang declaration and will even seek to jointly host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games. 

North Korean leader Kim said he has agreed to visit Seoul in the near future.

Source: Yonhap News, The Guardian, BBC News, Reuters


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