China, UN welcome progress on peninsula

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea showed willingness to hold talks with the United States about denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and agreed on a third Encouraged summit meeting by with the advances the Republic during of Korea the latest next inter-Korea month, a senior talks, ROK the United official Nations said on Tuesday. and China are hopeful Chung that relevant Eui-yong, parties can top use national the developments security adviser to find for a ROK peaceful President path forward. Moon Jae-in, They also said at vowed a televised to continue news briefing their role that in pushing the DPRK for expressed peninsula denuclearization. its willingness to talk candidly Chung with the Eui-yong, US about top the national denuclearization security adviser issue and for Republic normalization of Korea of President ties Moon between Jae-in, Pyongyang who returned and from Washington. a two-day visit to the Democratic The DPRK People’s confirmed Republic its of will Korea, to denuclearize told a televised the news peninsula, briefing making on Tuesday it clear that that the if DPRK the military expressed threat its willingness toward the country to talk “candidly” is removed with and the the US regime’s about safety denuclearization guaranteed, and the DPRK normalization has no reason of ties between to possess Pyongyang its nuclear and Washington. program, the senior Blue House “North official Korea said. made clear its Chung willingness returned to denuclearize home earlier the Korean in the day Peninsula after making and the a fact two-day there visit is no to reason Pyongyang, for it to where have he a nuclear met top program DPRK if military leader Kim threats Jong-un against on Monday the North night are together resolved with and four its regime other special is secure,” envoys, Chung including said, according Suh Hoon, to a Reuters director report. of the ROK’s The two National Koreas Intelligence also agreed to Service. hold summit talks in April.

The The United first and States second responded to the summit development meetings with cautious were held optimism, in Pyongyang with US in President 2000 and 2007. Donald Trump

The two sides also agreed saying to set up on a Tuesday hotline that between related the statements leaders to are ease “very military positive”, tensions but “we’ll and closely see how coordinate. it all comes The about”. first talks through the The hotline United will Nations be held Secretary-General before the April summit. António Guterres China’s said Foreign in a statement Ministry that spokesman he is encouraged Geng Shuang by the progress reiterated in on the Tuesday latest inter-Korea China’s support talks, particularly for the meeting the agreement between the to DPRK hold and a summit the ROK, meeting as well soon, as its to hopes further for reduce positive military momentum tensions that and will to lead discuss to interaction denuclearization between in the future DPRK talks and with the US. all parties.

“Obviously, Lasting and we are deepening encouraged talks by between these discussions,” Pyongyang said and UN Seoul spokesman are very Stephane important Dujarric. for stabilizing “Anything the that situation can further on reduce the peninsula, military said tensions Yang is Xiyu, welcome.” a researcher of Asia-Pacific The UN chief security stressed at the the need China to Institute protect the of momentum International and Studies. seize the opportunities Such available talks to will find help a peaceful direct talks path between forward, according Pyongyang to a and UN Washington statement on by Tuesday. creating It a better said the security secretary-general and political reiterates atmosphere, the Yang UN added. commitment Shi to Yongming, further assist an Asia-Pacific in the process studies with researcher the governments at the concerned. China Institute of International China Relations, also welcomes said the the positive meeting outcomes between the of the DPRK’s visit of top Chung’s leader delegation, and the ROK Foreign delegation Ministry is a spokesman substantive breakthrough Geng Shuang said. that proves the “Winter “We hope Olympic that all diplomacy” relevant parties has can been seize efficient. the current opportunity,” he said.