First summit in a decade
> Leaders of two Koreas to meet on April 27
SEOUL: North and South Korea will hold their first summit in over a decade on April 27, South Korean officials said yesterday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his commitment to denuclearisation as tensions ease between the old foes.
South Korean government officials announced the date of the summit after holding high-level talks with their North Korean counterparts yesterday.
The two Koreas had agreed earlier this month to hold such a summit at the border truce village of Panmunjom when South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a delegation to Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Yesterday’s talks were the first between the two Koreas since the delegation returned from the North.
A joint statement from the dialogue said two Koreas would hold a working-level meeting on April 4 to discuss details for the summit, such as staffing support, security and news releases.
No details on the summit agenda were released, with the South’s unification minister Cho Myong-gyon saying the two sides agreed more time was needed to sort out details although they had exchanged opinions on the agenda “fully” yesterday.
Cho said the summit agenda would largely address denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and improvement of inter-Korean relations.
“We still have a fair number of issues to resolve on a working-level for preparations over the next month,” said Ri Son Gwon, chairman of North Korea’s committee for the peaceful reunification of the country, in closing remarks to the South delegation.
“But if the two sides deeply understand the historic significance and meaning of this summit and give their all, we will be able to solve all problems swiftly and amicably,” Ri added.
China commended the two sides for their efforts to improve ties.
“We hope the momentum of dialogue can continue and that the peaceful situation also can last,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a briefing.
Kim is also scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump some time in May to discuss denuclearisation, although a time and place have not been set for that summit.
Trump tweeted he had received a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday that his meeting with Kim this week “went very well” and that Kim looked forward to meeting the US leader.
Kim’s engagement with the international community has sparked speculation that he may try to meet other leaders.
Japan’s Asahi newspaper said Tokyo had sounded out Pyongyang about a summit.
Japan’s foreign minister Taro Kono left open the possibility that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might meet Kim at some point.
Kono said Japan is closely watching preparations for the inter-Korean summit and the Trump-Kim meeting.– Reuters