Stepping forward

1 Reasons to be cheerful

The mood of the summit appeared genuinely optimistic and the two leaders seemed to strike up a convivial relationship from the start. The first sign was Kim Jongun’s unscripted invitation for Moon Jae-in to step over to the North when they first met, apparently in response to Moon’s question: “When do I get to visit the North?”

2 ‘No more tests’

Kim is reported to have promised Moon there would be no more nuclear missile tests. “I heard that you had early morning sleep disturbed many times because you had to attend the national security council meetings because of us,” he told his counterpart from the South. “I will make sure that your morning sleep won’t be disturbed,” he added in an apparent promise to stop the tests.

3 Kim’s sister is key ally

Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, was by his side throughout as formalities were conducted at the House of Peace.

4 The voice

Although we’ve heard Kim’s speaking voice a few times in speeches, we’ve never heard him in conversation until today. A South Korean Bloomberg reporter said Kim didn’t sound like he had much of an accent and “wouldn’t sound out of place in Seoul”.

5 Tension remains

Despite the upbeat feel, there’s still scepticism about what it all means for peace on the peninsula. Robert Kelly of Pusan national university in South Korea warned that Pyongyang “hasn’t really changed, and it hasn’t offered a meaningful concession yet”, adding there were still “huge” strategic and political divisions between the North on one hand, and the South and the US on the other.