First Inter-Korea Summit Makes History

North and South Korea
North and South Korea (photo: Pixabay)
By Mei ManuelApril 27th, 2018

A very pleasant meeting between the two leaders of the two Koreas was witness on Friday as South Korean President Moon Jae-in met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Korean demilitarized zone as part of the talks between the two countries to restore peace in the region.

Moon greeted his North Korean counterpart at the demarcation line, where they shook hands and smiled. Moon had even invited Kim to step into South Korea, making him the first North Korean leader since the Korean War to enter South Korea. In turn, Kim had invited Moon to step in North Korea. Both leaders them crossed back to South Korea holding hands.

Kim had remarked as he shook hands with his South Korean counterpart, "I was excited to meet at this historic place and it is really moving that you came all the way to the demarcation line to greet me in person."

In turn, Moon said "It was your big decision to make it here."

After this symbolic action, they were handed flowers by two South Korean children living in a village close to the zone and were met by a red carpet by a South Korean honor guard dressed in historical costumes as traditional Korean music played.

In their private meeting, a South Korean official shared that Kim told Moon that he came to the summit in full hopes to end the conflict between their two nations and joked he was sorry he woke up Moon due to the early morning missile tests. The official also remarked Kim invited Moon to visit Pyongyang and he was open to visit the Blue House in Seoul, hoping to meet his counterpart "more often" in the future for further talks. He had also said he felt a "swirl of emotion" as he entered South Korea and wondered why it took so long before he made this decision.

Kim had also wrote on the Peace House's guestbook, writing "A new history starts now. An age of peace, from the starting point of history."

The meeting of the two leaders and the scenes showing them engaging in active discussion is a striking contrast to their stances last year when North Korea had launched several missile tests. The tests caused fears to brew in the region, especially with the strength of the last North Korean missile test.

Prior to the summit, Kim had ordered the cancellation of all nuclear tests in the country and dismantle its known nuclear test site. However, scepticism lingers considering the length of time Kim has defended its nuclear weaponry as its means to deter a potential invasion from the US.

The US, on its end, is watching the talks and hopes it will indeed make progress in achieving peace and prosperity for the peninsula. The White House also remarked that they look forward to continuing discussions with South Korea for the scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim in the coming weeks. It is expected that both leaders are to meet sometime late May or June with President Trump saying on Thursday he is currently considering where to hold the meeting and which venue will host it.

Two earlier summits were held between the two Koreas in 2000 and 2007, but it failed to stop North Korea's weapons program and improve relations. Kim remarked, "Today, rather than create results we won't be able to carry out like in the past, we should make good results by talking frankly about current issues, issues of interest."

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