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Politics

Pyongyang summit boosts inter-Korean relations, keeps denuke talks moving

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2018-09-20 08:35:14Xinhua Editor : Gu Liping ECNS App Download

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un have concluded a second day of talks at their Pyongyang summit.

The summit has so far resulted in the signing of an agreement on easing military tensions, boosting inter-Korean relations and aiming at further efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

They also witnessed the signing of a separate military agreement by the defense chiefs of the two sides on the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration reached between Moon and Kim during their first summit in April.

Analysts said the joint declaration and agreement reflect a strategy of trying to push forward cooperation in economy, tourism, culture and sports while taking further steps toward denuclearizing the peninsula.

Analysts spoke highly of the gestures on the part of Kim but said that it remains to be seen whether the United States would reciprocate by making moves in line with the agreement made at the Singapore summit in June.

ECONOMIC TIES AS DRIVERS

The joint declaration was signed after two rounds of face-to-face talks on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning respectively. Both sides pledged to end hostilities, eliminate the risk of war, increase inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation and pursue a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

The joint declaration and the separate agreement on easing military tensions outline a series of pledges and concrete plans with the aim of breaking new ground in inter-Korean relations and eliminating the risk of war.

Measures included setting up a joint military committee, unfreezing the Kaesong Industrial Complex and the Mount Kumgang tourism program, and carrying out cooperation in environment, health, medical care and humanitarian issues such as reuniting families that have been torn apart by the war. The two sides also announced they will jointly bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Observers spoke highly of the determination shown by Pyongyang and Seoul to improve inter-Korean relations, especially at a time of stalemate in the DPRK-U.S. denuclearization talks.

"It seems the two Koreas are moving ahead on their Panmunjom Declaration ... They are kind of separating the issue of denuclearization a bit from the Koreans' need to move forward," Tim Shorrock, a writer and commentator on U.S. foreign policy and intelligence, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"I really applaud the Koreans moving ahead and not letting the dispute with the U.S. get in the way of their own inter-Korean progress ... that's all very positive," he said.

Inter-Korean relations have witnessed a series of positive developments since the beginning of this year. Moon and Kim held their first summit at the truce village of Panmunjom on the border in April, which was also the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years, followed by a series of inter-Korean talks and cooperation in the political, military, sports, humanitarian, transportation and forestry sectors.

Two family reunion sessions have been held at Mount Kumgang in southeast DPRK in August.

Earlier this month, a joint inter-Korean liaison office was opened with officials from both sides stationed there for round-the-clock communication.

Moon's entourage included business leaders from some of South Korea's largest conglomerates such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai, reflecting the willingness of both sides to engage in r economic cooperation.

"Anything that the Koreans can do to link up their economies makes much sense, because if their economies are more linked together, there is less chance for war. The economic incentive can keep things going," Harry Kazianis, director of Defense Studies at the Washington-based Center for the National Interest, told Xinhua.

"The result here that people would remember is that the Koreas are regularly talking, and that has never happened before. That's a good thing," he said.

"KEEP THE BALL MOVING"

One of the key agendas of Moon's visit is to rekindle the deadlocked DPRK-U.S. denuclearization talks.

Pyongyang has demanded a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War as the first step, but Washington insists on Pyongyang taking more actions toward denuclearization before a declaration is issued to end the war and ease sanctions.

In the joint declaration signed on Wednesday, the DPRK said it is willing to make additional efforts such as permanently destroying its main Yongbyon nuclear facilities if Washington takes corresponding actions in accordance with the DPRK-U.S. joint statement signed in Singapore in June.

The Singapore joint statement says that U.S. President Donald Trump is committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his "firm and unwavering commitment" to the peninsula's denuclearization.

"The key word here is 'corresponding measures,'" said Shorrock, referring to the Pyongyang Declaration. He said the corresponding steps now need to be taken by the U.S. side in response.

The Yongbyon nuclear facility in the northwestern DPRK is known to house a five-megawatt graphite-moderated reactor. The DPRK already dismantled its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site and its key Dongchang-ri missile engine test site.

Moon said during a joint press briefing with Kim after signing the joint declaration that it was the first time the two Koreas reached an agreement on further steps toward the denuclearization of the peninsula.

"Whether there will be any breakthrough (in denuclearization talks) now depends on the U.S. response," Shorrock said, although he remained skeptical about Washington's willingness to reciprocate given the amount of domestic opposition against any concessions by the U.S. side.

In the declaration, the DPRK also agrees to permanently destroy the Dongchang-ri engine test site and missile launching pads in the presence of experts from the countries concerned, in a further step to reduce hostilities.

"This is something that we didn't think he would do, so I think that's a good thing. Hopefully Trump will reciprocate by giving a peace declaration," said Kazianis.

Kim's offers will help "keep the ball moving," Kazianis said.

"I am optimistic ... If we look at history, you will find a lot of these summits that were usually building up the bigger things historically," he said.

Moon's three-day visit to Pyongyang that started Tuesday is the first by a South Korean head of state in 11 years.

  

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