Kim Jong Un, Moon Jae-in agree to pursue Korean denuclearization, peace treaty in historic summit

A historic summit in Korea
(Image credit: Reuters)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Friday in the demilitarized zone between their countries, the third time the leaders of the rival nations have met since the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim crossed into South Korea, then invited Moon to step into North Korea, and after an initial meeting, the two leaders met privately on a bridge for 30 minutes. In a declaration they signed Friday evening, Kim and Moon pledged to pursue "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization" and said they hoped to sign a peace treaty this year to finally end the Korean War. Kim and Moon also helped plant a pine tree dating back to 1953.

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"We should be living in unity," Kim told reporters after signing the declaration. "We have long waited for this moment to happen. All of us. ... The road I have used today, I sincerely hope every South and North Korean citizen can use this road." He did not mention denuclearization, but a spokesman for Moon shrugged: "The agreement is a binding document. His speech is not." Kim and Moon and their wives will attend a banquet Friday night.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.