Close X
Monday, December 16, 2024
ADVT 
International

WATCH: North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Makes History, Crosses Southern Border

IANS, 27 Apr, 2018 12:15 PM

    Seoul and Pyongyang on Friday agreed to work together to realise a "complete" denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula following a historic summit between the two countries' leaders that came after a gap of over a decade.

     

    The agreement was part of a joint declaration issued after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit earlier in the day at the truce border village of Panmunjom, reports Yonhap News Agency.

     

    "South and North Korea affirmed their shared objective of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearisation," said the declaration signed by both the leaders.

     
     

    They shared the view that the recent steps that the North had taken were "very meaningful" and "important" for denuclearisation efforts and agreed to do their respective part in that matter, the declaration said.

     

    The two Koreas had earlier agreed to denuclearise their countries and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula in their two previous summits held in 2000 and 2007.

     
     

    The talks began at 10.15 a.m., about 45 minutes after Kim crossed the MDL, becoming the first North Korean leader to do so since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

     
     
     

    "It is good to see you," Kim said to Moon, waiting just south of the MDL for their first-ever encounter that was quickly followed by a handshake.

     
     

    "I cannot stop my excitement as we meet here at such a historical place. Also, it is very moving that you, Mr. President, have come to Panmunjom, the demarcation line, to greet me," the North Korean leader said.

     
     

    Kim surprised many by inviting Moon to briefly cross the inter-Korean border to the North Korean side, which South Korean officials said was not pre-arranged.

     

    Moon expressed his gratitude to Kim for agreeing to hold the summit.

     

    "The moment Chairman Kim crossed the Military Demarcation Line, Panmunjom became a symbol of peace, not a symbol of division. I wish to again express my respect to Chairman Kim Jong-un's decision that made today's discussions possible," the President said

     
     

    The summit came amid thawing ties this year that followed heightening tensions between the Koreas, Yonhap News Agency reported.

     

    Pyongyang staged nearly a dozen missile tests since Moon took office in May 2017, while also conducting its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September.

     
     

    Friday's summit marked the third inter-Korean summit and the first to be held in South Korea.

     

    The leaders' talks ended shortly before noon. Kim returned to his country in a black limousine that crossed the inter-Korean border while surrounded by nearly a dozen North Korean guards.

     
     

    He will cross the inter-Korean border again later in the day for various events that will include a friendship walk with Moon.

     

    Moon will host a welcoming dinner later in the day for Kim and possibly his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Top Indian-American Cancer Scientist Inder Verma Facing Misconduct Allegations

    Top Indian-American Cancer Scientist Inder Verma Facing Misconduct Allegations
    A prominent Indian-American cancer and gene therapy scientist in the US has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of “inappropriate conduct” against him.

    Top Indian-American Cancer Scientist Inder Verma Facing Misconduct Allegations

    H1B Approvals For Indian IT Companies Dropby 43% Between 2015-17

    H1B Approvals For Indian IT Companies Dropby 43% Between 2015-17
    Top seven Indian IT companies experienced a whopping 43 per cent drop in their H-1B visa approvals between 2015 and 2017, a US think-tank has said.

    H1B Approvals For Indian IT Companies Dropby 43% Between 2015-17

    Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader Abdul Rehman Makki Insults Guru Nanak Dev

    Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader Abdul Rehman Makki Insults Guru Nanak Dev
    The dirty conspiracy of denigrating Islam has been continuing for centuries. The emergence of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of Sikhs, was also part of the conspiracy and he (Guru Nanak) was equally a culprit of maligning Islam

    Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader Abdul Rehman Makki Insults Guru Nanak Dev

    Pakistani Man Arrested For Burning Christian Woman To Death Over Refusing His Marriage Proposal

    Pakistani Man Arrested For Burning Christian Woman To Death Over Refusing His Marriage Proposal
    A young Christian woman who was set on fire a week ago by a Muslim man for refusing to marry him today succumbed to her injuries at Lahore's Mayo Hospital in Pakistan's Punjab province.

    Pakistani Man Arrested For Burning Christian Woman To Death Over Refusing His Marriage Proposal

    9-Year-Old Chess Prodigy From India Caught In Battle To Stay In UK

    9-Year-Old Chess Prodigy From India Caught In Battle To Stay In UK
    Shreyas Royal has won a series on chess championships and his parents, Jitendra and Anju Singh, are now appealing to the UK Home Office for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in Britain.

    9-Year-Old Chess Prodigy From India Caught In Battle To Stay In UK

    WATCH: Indian-American Teen Dhruv Gaur Wins $100,000 In Jeopardy College Quiz Contest

    WATCH: Indian-American Teen Dhruv Gaur Wins $100,000 In Jeopardy College Quiz Contest
    Indian-American teenager, Dhruv Gaur, has won the $100,000 Jeopardy college quiz championship.

    WATCH: Indian-American Teen Dhruv Gaur Wins $100,000 In Jeopardy College Quiz Contest