The leaders of South Korea and North Korea have completed their first day of talks in Pyongyang, North Korea. The visit is the third meeting between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un this year.
Moon’s main reason for the visit is to find ways to increase economic cooperation and avoid armed conflict between South and North Korea. He also aims to work toward a “North Korea-United States dialogue for denuclearization.”
Moon says he has confirmed that both Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump want to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Progress on the issue could be made quickly if the two men meet again and talk, he said.
A summit of firsts
The summit between Moon and Kim marked a number of firsts, says South Korean spokesman Yoon Young-chan.
Yoon told reporters that Tuesday’s events marked the first time Kim Jong Un has opened a summit in Pyongyang. Yoon added that a military band welcomed the South Korean group with music that is usually played only for North Korea’s senior leaders.
It was also a first when Moon and Kim walked along the red carpet at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport. The South Korean leader then inspected North Korean troops.
Following the events at the airport, the first session of the inter-Korea summit began in the headquarters of the Central Committee of the North Korean Worker’s Party.
Associated Press reporters noted that Moon and Kim share an interest in expanding business projects across the border. Currently, however, all major projects between the two Koreas are slowed or stopped because of U.S.-led sanctions.
And the nuclear issue remains an obstacle. Kim has indicated that he is willing to talk to U.S. officials again about the issue. However, at the same time, he has tried to create direct ties to South Korea. Kim’s goal appears to speak directly to South Korean officials about how to bring peace and stability to the area.
Likely outcomes
On Tuesday afternoon, South Korean spokesman Yoon Young-chan told reporters it was not clear how much progress would be made on denuclearization issues. He also said to wait until after Wednesday’s talks for the possible announcement of any decisions.
Kim Hyun-wook is a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. He told reporters that if no agreements come out of the summit, another meeting between Trump and Kim is unlikely.
I’m Susan Shand.
VOA’s Steve Miller reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
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Words in This Story
dialogue – n. a conversation
summit – n a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments
band – n. a group that plays music together
carpet – n. a floor covering
briefing – n. an event to give information to reporters