N. Korea's Kim reaches "satisfactory" agreement on inter-Korean summit: KCNA

By Lim Chang-won Posted : March 6, 2018, 09:15 Updated : March 6, 2018, 09:15

[Courtesy of South Korea's presidential Blue House.]


SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reached a "satisfactory" agreement on an inter-Korean summit, clarifying his firm will to vigorously push for inter-Korean relations and write a "new history" of reunification, the North's state media reported.

At a meeting Monday in Pyongyang, Kim received South Korean President Moon Jae-in's letter through his special envoy and discussed ways to ease military tensions and activate "versatile" dialogue, contact, cooperation and exchanges, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The meeting came after Moon dispatched a special delegation for a trip aimed at checking the veracity of a sudden peace overture extended by the North's reclusive leader who sent athletes, cheerleaders, an art troupe and high-level delegations to South Korea last month.

Through his sister, Kim invited Moon to Pyongyang for a summit, but the South's leader suggested Pyongyang should create a favorable mood by holding talks with the United States on denuclearization.

At Monday's meeting, Kim had "openhearted" talks with the South Korean delegation "over the issues arising in actively improving the north-south relations and ensuring peace and stability" on the Korean peninsula, KCNA said.

"Hearing the intention of President Moon Jae-in for a summit from the special envoy of the south side, he exchanged views and made a satisfactory agreement," it said, adding Kim gave an important instruction to the relevant field to "rapidly take practical steps".

Kim clarified his firm will "to vigorously advance the north-south relations and write a new history of national reunification", KCNA said, adding the leader  exchanged in-depth views with South Korean officials on issues "for easing the acute military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and activating the versatile dialogue, contact, cooperation and exchange".

Kim's remarks were seen as good signs for inter-Korean rapprochement,  but KCNA did not mention nuclear and missile programs which have triggered tough international sanctions and acute cross-border tensions.

On Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said that Seoul and Washington would not ease diplomatic pressure and sanctions without Pyongyang's practical measures to denuclearize.  She stressed that an inter-Korean thaw brought by the North's participation in the Winter Games in South Korea depends on how to achieve denuclearization.

Through Monday's trip by a South Korean delegation to Pyongyang, Seoul wants to check whether North Korea's peace offensive is genuine, Kang said. The delegation included Chung Eui-yong, who heads the presidential National Security Office, National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon and Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung.
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