Dawn of a new era on Korean peninsula

Summit between leaders of North and South raises hopes for denuclearisation and a peace treaty

It is spring on the Korean peninsula. And after the first meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea in the de-militarised zone (DMZ) that cuts through the heart of their nations, there is indeed hope that the bitter war that concluded with a cessation of hostilities can end now in a lasting peace deal. What’s more, given the events that transpired at Friday’s historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, there is even the possibility that the peninsula may become denuclearised.

Both Kim and Moon promised to declare a formal end to the Korean War, a step in itself that has eluded others over these past 65 years. That would certainly ease the tensions that have existed along the DMZ as both nations faced off along the most heavily mined and fortified territory on this planet.

Since 1953 there have been exchanges of artillery and other incidents that brought the neighbours to the brink of all-out hostilities, and if this summit manages to break that ground, then it will be life-changing for all those who share that divided peninsula.

The remarkable scenes of friendliness and good humour shared between Kim and Moon bode well for a future working relationship between the two and let’s indeed hope that the chemistry between the two, and the obvious influence, too, of Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, results in more cordial relations between Pyongyang and Seoul.

The North Korean leader went so far as to suggest that there would be no more early-morning alerts for Moon as a result of Pyongyang’s missile tests. The summit also heard that Kim was eager to work to achieve the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Last month, Kim visited Beijing for meetings with the highest levels of the Chinese leadership, and he also met over the Easter Weekend with Mike Pompeo, United States President Donald Trump’s then nominee and now US Secretary of State. This summit with Moon caps an intense month of diplomatic activity that has certainly so far yielded positive results and made the right noises on lowering tensions.

The biggest challenge now will come before the end of May when Kim is due to meet Trump. Let’s face it, given the personalities involved and the vicious trading of personal insults between the two, who knows what might happen. But so far, this diplomatic charm offensive is working. The test is yet to come.