Korean Leaders Aim for End of War, “Complete Denuclearisation”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into South Korea for the first time on Friday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has returned to North Korea after a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, at which they vowed to remove nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula but provided no specific new measures.
Smiling and holding hands, Un and Moon Jae-in met at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday in the first summit between the two Koreas in over a decade.
The dramatic meeting, aimed at ending their decades-long conflict, comes weeks before Kim is due to meet US President Donald Trump.
Kim Jong Un Has Returned to North Korea
As pop music blared, Kim and Moon firmly grasped each other's hands on Friday during a lavish farewell ceremony at the border truce village of Panmunjom, as photos of their summit were projected onto a massive screen installed in front of the building where they met.
Kim then boarded a black Mercedes Benz limousine that drove them back north.
Korean Leaders Aim for End of War, "Complete Denuclearisation" After Historic Summit
The leaders of North and South Korea embraced on Friday after pledging to work for the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula", on a day of smiles and handshakes at the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade.
The two Koreas announced they would work with the United States and China this year to declare an official end to the 1950s Korean War and seek an agreement on "permanent" and "solid" peace.
The declaration included promises to pursue phased arms reduction, cease hostile acts, transform their fortified border into a peace zone and seek multilateral talks with other countries including the United States.
Donald Trump 'Proud' of the Meet
President Donald Trump tweeted "KOREAN WAR TO END" after a historic meeting between the leaders of North Korea and South Korea.
Trump responded to the meeting of North Korea's Kim Jong Un with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in South Korea.
Shinzo Abe Welcomes Meet
Japan's leader Shinzo Abe is welcoming the outcome of the inter-Korean summit as a step towards resolving the North Korean threat, reported AP
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised the talks Friday as a "forward-looking move." He told reporters in Tokyo that he expects North Korea to take concrete actions toward denuclearization through its planned talks with the U.S.
Abe says he hopes to get further details and Moon's evaluation of the talks when they talk by phone.
North and South Korea to Stop All Hostile Acts Over "Land, Sea and Air"
North and South Korea have agreed to stop all hostile acts over "land, sea and air" that can cause military tensions and clashes, after a summit between their leaders at a border truce village.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced Friday that starting 1 May, they will suspend all loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts the countries have been blaring at each other across their heavily-armed border. They will also dismantle broadcasting equipment.
The Koreas also agreed to stop flying propaganda leaflets across their border.
The countries also agreed to take steps to defuse the relatively frequent clashes around their western maritime border by designating the area as a "peace zone" and guarantee safe operations of fishermen from both countries.
The Koreas plan to hold military talks in May to further discuss reducing tensions.
Moon Jae-in to travel To North Korea
South Korean president Moon Jae-in will travel to North Korea in autumn, with both leaders vowing that there will be no war.
Leaders of North, South Korea Discuss Denuclearisation, Peace in First Session
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in had "serious, frank" discussions on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and a permanent peace in their first summit.
The two sides were writing up a joint statement and the two leaders would announce it together when it was finished, a south Korean official, Yoon Young-chan, told a briefing.
Yoon said Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol Ju, would join Moon and Kim for dinner.
Kim Jong Un Said Will Go to Blue House If Invited: South Korean Presidential Official
Quoting South Korean Presidential official, Reuters reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he will go to Blue House (executive office and official residence of the South Korean head of state) anytime if he is invited.
According to Reuters, the official said Kim Jong Un said it was a better idea to meet in the South than Pyongyang sinces Moon might have difficulties traveling in North Korea due to undeveloped traffic infrastructure.
First Session Closed, the Two Leaders Break for Lunch
Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in wrapped up the first round of talks, the South's presidential office said on Friday.
Kim and Moon will meet later in the afternoon after they have lunch separately. Kim returned to the North in a black limousine with bodyguards surrounding the vehicle as it made its way across the border.
The two are scheduled to plant a memorial tree at the border to kick off their second session of the summit.
3 Key Agenda Items at Closely Watched Korea Summit Talks
Friday's summit between the leaders of the rival Koreas won't be entirely focused on North Korea's nuclear weapons, though they will certainly top the agenda after the recent rapid progress North Korea has made. The meeting is a rare opportunity for the two men to discuss other thorny issues at the highest level.
Here's a look at the expected agenda between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Denuclearisation: The success of the summit largely depends on negotiations centered on the North's commitment to nuclear disarmament.
Permanent peace: The Korean Peninsula is one of the most volatile areas on Earth, with hundreds of thousands of combat-ready soldiers from the two Koreas deployed along the mine-strewn border. That's largely because the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty.
Moon recently said the two Koreas should formally agree to stop the war and sign a peace treaty, days after Trump gave his "blessing" for them to discuss an end of the war.
Improving ties: The two leaders will also likely discuss how to mend ties strained during nearly a decade of conservative rule in South Korea before Moon took office last May.
In Photos: "A new history starts now"
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into South Korea for the first time on Friday, 27 April, where he was greeted by the South's president, Moon Jae-in ahead of the two Koreas' first summit in more than a decade.
The two leaders smiled and shook hands after which Kim Jong Un gestured to Moon they cross over to North Korea briefly, which they did for a few steps, then returned to the South, holding hands.
The meeting, aimed at ending their decades-long conflict and easing tensions over the North's nuclear weapons programme, comes weeks before Kim is due to meet US President Donald Trump.
The White House said it was hopeful North Korea-South Korea talks would achieve progress towards peace and prosperity for the entire Korean peninsula.
(With inputs from Reuters/AP)
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