Kim Jong-un agrees to permanently close missile sites, visit Seoul

Sep 20, 2018, 09:24 am

By AsiaToday reporter Joo Sung-sik

North and South Korea have agreed Wednesday to make substantial progress to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat. The two sides also agreed to end military hostility at fortified regions, including the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and continue such momentum by seeking to remove all real risks of war on the Korean Peninsula and resolve hostile relations. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to visit Seoul this year for the first time as a North Korean leader.

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a joint declaration called the September Pyongyang Declaration after holding the second round of summit talks at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang on Wednesday. The summit between Moon and Kim began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 11:10 a.m..

Above all, the two leaders agreed to take practical and additional steps to promote the North Korea-U.S. nuclear negotiations, which have stalled in recent weeks. North Korea agreed to permanently dismantle a missile-engine testing facility and launch pad in Dongchang-ri in the presence of international inspectors. The North also promised additional steps, including the permanent dismantlement of facilities at its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, if the United States takes unspecified corresponding measures.

The two Koreas also agreed to take concrete and practical measures to alleviate military tensions between the two countries. The two leaders agreed to adopt the "Agreement on the Implementation of the Historic Panmunjom Declaration in the Military Doman" as an annex agreement of the Pyongyang Declaration, and actively promote practical measures to make the Korean Peninsula a permanent peace zone. As part of the agreement, the two Koreas agreed to halt military exercises in the demilitarized zone and implement a joint military committee to facilitate regular communications and prevent accidental armed clashes.

To facilitate economic growth, the leaders decided to hold a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction to reconnect railways and roads linking the countries within this year. They will also work to reopen the Kaesong Industrial Complex and resume Mt. Kumgang Mountain tourism operations.

"Today the North and South decided to remove all threats that can cause war from the entire Korean Peninsula. Chairman Kim has clearly shown a way to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula," Moon said in a joint press conference. The president said he had asked Kim to visit Seoul before the end of this year as long as there are no special unexpected conditions.

Kim said in a joint press conference that he will make efforts to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, and that he will visit Seoul in the near future. "We have adopted a military agreement to end the history of tragic confrontation and the history of hostility once and for all and promised to actively work towards making the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threats," Kim said.

Moon and Kim will visit the North's Mount Paektu Thursday morning. After returning home, the South Korean president will fly to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly and hold a summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 24.

#Kim Jong-un #dismantlement #Moon Jae-in #Pyongyang Declaration #missile sites