[Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday hailed an agreement to hold a landmark summit between the leaders of North Korean and the United States as a "historic milestone" for peace on the Korean peninsula.
Moon praised U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for making a "difficult" decision and said the May meeting between them could put complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula on the right rack, according to the president's spokesman.
"The May meeting will be recorded later as a historic milestone that realized peace on the Korean peninsula," Moon was quoted as saying. He called for caution saying he would seek progress in a "sincere and deliberate" manner. "Our government will cherish an opportunity that came like a miracle."
Moon's comment came after Trump agreed to meet Kim by May for talks on permanent denuclearization. Trump tweeted that Kim talked about denuclearization, not just a freeze. "Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached," he wrote.
At talks with Trump in Washington, Moon's security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, conveyed Kim's proposal to hold sincere talks with Trump and produce "a big outcome", according to the presidential spokesman. Chung led a five-member presidential delegation to a meeting with Kim in Pyongyang on Monday.
"Of course, we have to make sure not to repeat the mistakes of the past, but I hope the United States will accept our judgment about Chairman Kim and not miss this opportunity," Chung was quoted as telling Trump. At a White House press conference, the envoy said Kim is "committed to denuclearization" and will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.
Trump will accept Kim's invitation to meet at a place and time to be determined later, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain."
Kim "understands" that US and South Korean troops would continue their regular joint military exercises, which were suspended during last month's Winter Olympics after Kim made a surprise peace overture to send athletes, cheerleaders and high-level delegations to South Korea.
There are about 28,000 US troops stationed in South Korea. Washington and Seoul insist their joint military exercises are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang condemns them as provocative rehearsals for an attack on the nuclear-armed country.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
