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2 Koreas to hold historic summit, focus on North's nuke issue
South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are set to hold Friday the first inter-Korean summit in over a decade, with talks to focus on the North's denuclearization and ending their decades-old rivalry. The meeting, along with a planned first-ever summit between the United States and North Korea, are being seen as a critical chance to seek a breakthrough in the North Korean nuclear and missile standoff following a year of mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Kim left Pyongyang early on Friday morning for the "historical" meeting and he will "open-heartedly discuss" with Moon issues arising in improving inter-Korean relations and achieving peace, prosperity and reunification of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. (Korean unification flag) A reconciliatory mood was created by North Korea's abrupt diplomatic outreach in the past months, and the summit hosted by South Korea will mark the first time for a North Korean ruler to cross the border of the two countries, which remain technically at war. Every word and move by the secretive country's leader will be keenly watched, with major events to unfold in the border village of Panmunjeom to be broadcast live, starting from the two leaders' first encounter and their initial handshake. During the official talks that will start from 10:30 a.m., the 65-year-old South Korean president will face off with the North Korean leader around half his age, hoping to affirm Kim's commitment to denuclearization. North Korea, which has continued to advance its missile and nuclear weapons programs in defiance of the international community, has expressed its commitment to denuclearization in recent months and also announced a halt of nuclear tests and long-range missile launches less than a week before the summit. But skepticism remains over whether Kim is serious about surrendering his country's nuclear weapons or is just seeking to win concessions from the international community, such as the easing of economic sanctions imposed on his country over its weapons program. Moon is also expected to discuss with Kim ways to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula as part of efforts to bring an end in the current armistice signed after the 1950-1953 Korean War. In the war, North Korea sought by force to reunite the Korean nation, divided at the 38th parallel into a Soviet-occupied north and a U.S.-occupied south at the conclusion of World War II. The peninsula remains divided by the Demilitarized Zone along that parallel. North Korea has long pressed the United States for a peace treaty, as a way to ensure the survival of its regime. A security guarantee is a prerequisite for the North to give up to its nuclear arms, which it touts as its "treasured sword" to defend against the "hostile policies" of the United States and its allies. Replacing the armistice with a peace treaty is a complicated issue that cannot be addressed only by the two Koreas, but Moon and Kim may seek to adopt a "peace declaration" to end their hostile relationship in what could be a seen as a major step toward reconciliation. Moon has also said he wants to hold talks with the aim of advancing inter-Korean relations, though it would likely be difficult for the two sides to agree on an early resumption of their economic cooperation as North Korea remains under the pressure of international sanctions. The two leaders plan to sign a document on agreements reached during the summit, an official of the South Korean presidential office said Thursday, but it remains unclear in what way the outcome will be announced. The third inter-Korean summit, which is shorter than the previous ones in 2000 and 2007 that continued for a few days, will contain events that appear to highlight the two countries' reconciliatory mood. Between the morning and afternoon sessions of the summit, Moon and Kim will jointly plant a commemorative pine tree on the Military Demarcation Line that runs through the middle of the Demilitarized Zone, a 4-kilometer wide, 250-km-long stretch of land. The pine is a "tree beloved by the Korean people," and a mixture of soil taken from the highest mountains of both countries will be used in the planting. The two leaders will wet the roots of the freshly planted tree with water from rivers flowing through their capitals, in a gesture of hope for peace and prosperity. The day will wrap up with a welcoming dinner and the two leaders' watching a video themed "A New Spring Enjoyed Together," featuring a mix of beautiful images and the present and the future of the Korean Peninsula, according to the official.
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