Did Trump’s Threats Kickstart Korean Peace Deal? "One Country, Two Systems" Solution in the Works
As soon as Donald Trump scaled back on threatening North Korea, the process of détente on the peninsula really took off. A Korean summit was held on the 38th parallel on Friday. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un and his Southern colleague, Moon Jae-in shook firmly shook hands, took walks, and spent many hours one-on-one since they didn't need a translator. The official outcome of these meetings is a mutual declaration of a step towards uniting under the principle of 'one country, two systems'.
"North and South strive for completely comprehensive improvement and development of relations, thus advancing towards future mutual prosperity and reunification".
This is also very important.
"South and North have confirmed their common goal to fully rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons through complete denuclearization".
Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin got a call from the South Korean President, Moon Jae-in. He informed Putin about his negotiations with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. In return, Putin emphasized the importance of the political and diplomatic resolution of the Korean peninsula's issues, and to consider the details of the Russian-Chinese roadmap.
Sergey Mingazhev reports about the inter-Korean breakthrough.
This is the spot where Northern and Southern forces stand face-to-face it is the most heavily guarded part of the DMZ. This is where representatives from the two Koreas cross the border for bilateral negotiations.
Kim Jong-un began walking down the stairs towards the demarcation line at exactly 9.30 AM. President Moon Jae-in was already expecting his visitor on the Southern side. This is a historical moment: the Northern leader crossed over the concrete barrier, stepping onto Southern land. They posed for the cameras, facing South Korea, then North Korea. Then, something unscripted happened. When Moon Jae-in asked when he'd be able to visit North Korea, Kim Jong-un took his hand, and brought him over to the Northern side. Before this, Southerners could only cross the border within the DMZ through the blue barracks.
This blue T-2 building in the Joint Security Area is the only place where you can freely cross the North Korean border without Pyongyang's permission. Usually, when the South entrance is open, the North one is locked, and South Korean servicemen are here. This is the Northern entrance door. Officially, we're in North Korea right now. If a North Korean soldier were here instead of this South Korean one, I wouldn't get away with it. Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in walk down the red carpet, accompanied by soldiers who are wearing military uniforms from the time of United Korea before its colonization by Japan in the early 20th century.
The negotiations take place in the Peace House of the South Korean Joint Security Area. Kim Jong-un writes in the Guest Book, "This is the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity" The North Korean leader will explain what it means later tonight after the formalities are over.
Kim Jong-un, the North Korean Leader: "When the people of North Korea and South Korea walk on the same road I walked on today, when the demilitarized zone will go from being a symbol of disunion to being a symbol of peace, North Korea and South Korea, who share the same language, history, and culture will forever prosper".
The first round takes three hours. At noon, Kim's black limo pulls away from the Peace House, surrounded by running gray men. The North Korean leader preferred to have lunch on his own territory.
Over 4,000 journalists from all over the world will oversee the inter-Korean summit. Koreans took an unprecedented step, turning Seoul's Exhibition Center into a giant press center. They are broadcasting the meeting of the two leaders on two big screens.
We can see how Kim Jong-un's limo pulls up for the symbolic tree planting on the inter-Korean border. The pine tree of 'peace and prosperity' is 65 years old. This is how long it's been since the Korean War ended. Everything here is meaningful. One pile of soil came from the North Korean Paektu Mountain, the other one is from the South Korean Hallasan Mountain. Also, Kim Jong-un is using water from the Han River in South Korea, Moon Jae-in's water came from the North Korean Taedong River in Pyongyang.
They took a walk on the blue deck that was built for the members of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission that supervises the inter-Korean truce. They sat at the deck's end, listening to birds chirping and wind in the reeds. They had a profound conversation for 30 minutes. You can't see Moon Jae-in's face, but Kim Jong-un is facing the camera. This sight really caused a furor among South Koreans. This was the first time they saw the hostile Northern leader with normal, human emotions.
Then, there were more negotiations in the Peace House. An hour later, the Korean leaders face the cameras to declare the beginning of the new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula.
Moon Jae-in, the South Korean Leader: "Today, Kim Jong-un and I have confirmed that our common goal is to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons through full denuclearization. We've also agreed to end our fragile truce and make strong, long-lasting peace on the Korean peninsula by ending the war and signing a peace treaty".
Kim Jong-un didn't mention anything about nuclear weapons or missiles. The clause about striving for denuclearization has been added to the Declaration, but there are no specifics about when it would take place and how.
After the official part, Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju came to the Peace House from the North. They had a gala dinner accompanied by songs about United Korea. The menu contained dishes, personally presented by the North Korean leader. Kim Jong-un brought a gift from Pyongyang, the naengmyeon buckwheat noodles. It's served cold and its secret is that the dough isn't cut, but rather pushed through a special strainer into boiling water. The best naengmyeon is believed to be in Pyongyang. This ancient dish dates back to the Jaseon Dynasty when Korea was still united, so this gift also has a symbolic meaning. After smashing a chocolate shell with a mango mousse dessert together, Kim Jong-un raises a glass to the beginning of a new history of the Korean peninsula.
An illumination show in front of the Peace House concluded the summit. Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in are holding hands. They're saying their goodbyes: the leaders share a heartfelt handshake, the First Ladies hug like old friends. This scene doesn't fit with the official inter-Korean status. The two countries are technically still at war.
In Seoul, objectors of reuniting with North Korea traditionally gather in front of the city hall. In the past, such protests were way more substantial, burning the North Korean flag in the process. However, the patriotic community is currently represented mostly by veterans and seniors. Their signs and banners clearly express how they feel about the summit.
An elderly woman with a sign that reads 'Mr. President Trump bomb North Korea quickly!' and an abundance of US flags at protests and marches against President Moon Jae-in, which were held in Seoul on Saturday, are all signs that reconciliation of both Koreas isn't just up to their leaders.
Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in the beginning of June. Predicting its outcome is just as hard as determining the prospects of a new era of peace in Korea, its beginning was declared during the summit at the demilitarized zone.
Sergey Mingazhev, Aleksey Pichko. Vesti News of the Week, Seoul, South Korea, 38th parallel north.