Rival Korean leaders to meet at historic summit in April
The rare talks between Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in could help global efforts to resolve the lengthy stand-off over the North’s nuclear programme.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in are to meet on April 27.
The announcement on Thursday came after officials from the two countries held talks in the border village of Panmunjom and agreed on a rare summit that could prove significant in global efforts to resolve the decades-long stand-off over the North’s nuclear programme.
The Koreas plan to hold another preparatory meeting on April 4 to discuss protocol, security and media coverage issues, according to a joint statement.
Seoul’s Unification Minister, Cho Myoung-gyon, one of three South Korean participants in Thursday’s talks, told reporters that setting up discussions between the leaders on ways to rid the North of its nuclear weapons would be a critical point.
The North’s three delegates were led by Ri Son Gwon, chairman of a state agency that deals with inter-Korean affairs.
The countries also agreed to hold a separate meeting to discuss communication issues and maintain working-level discussions through document exchanges, according to the statement.
The South’s delegation arrived in Panmunjom after their vehicles crossed the heavily guarded border near the southern city of Paju.
In response, Mr Cho said officials in the preparatory talks should do their best to set up a successful summit as the “current situation was created by decisions from the highest leaders of the North and South”.
The talks followed a surprise meeting this week between Mr Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which appeared to be aimed at improving both countries’ positions ahead of the North Korean leader’s planned meetings with Mr Moon and US President Donald Trump.
In his talks with Mr Xi, Mr Kim may have discussed economic co-operation with China or requested a softening of enforcement of sanctions over the North’s nuclear weapons. North Korea also wants Beijing to resist tougher sanctions if the talks with Washington and Seoul fall apart and the North starts testing missiles again.
Mr Yang is expected to meet Seoul’s presidential national security director Chung Eui-yong on Thursday before meeting President Moon on Friday.
Mr Moon’s spokesman, Kim Eui-kyeom, said Seoul welcomes the meeting between Mr Kim and Mr Trump and called it an encouraging sign that the North Korean leader expressed a firm willingness for dialogue with South Korea and the US during his visit to Beijing.
The North’s diplomatic outreach comes after an unusually provocative year where it conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date and three intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the American mainland. The change in tactics could be an attempt to ease pressure from heavy sanctions and improve its economy.
