Talk on implementing peace in South Korea that broke down after Hanoi Summit in February is set to be resumed due to a successful surprise meeting between President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un of North Korea. This meeting was not a regular meeting, but it was close to a summit and it has led to re-operation of ‘top-down talk’ channel. It will be interesting to see what kind of effects a summit between South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S., which last took place 66 years ago during an armistice agreement, will have on peace within the Korean Peninsula.
◊North Korea and the U.S. resume denuclearization talks
Because the meeting between President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim was an informal one, there was not an agreement with detailed results. However, it is likely that conversations between them washed away any conflict between North Korea and the U.S. and North Korea and South Korea that may have remained from past negotiations. There is now liveliness between North Korea and the U.S., and denuclearization talks that had come to an impasse have resumed again.
Leaders of North Korea and the U.S. agreed to have additional negotiation on denuclearization in the near future. “Supreme Leader Kim and I agreed to have comprehensive talks and agreement by appointing a representative for each of us.” said President Trump. “Secretary of State Pompeo already selected a task force and has a list. Our special representative for North Korea Steven Biegun will be the representative for our task force.” President Trump also added that Representative Biegun loves South Korea and North Korea and will negotiate with a representative from North Korea.
“We already have a task force and we want representatives that we both prefer to carry out denuclearization talks.” said President Trump on a reason why North Korea and the U.S. are preparing to set up new task forces for denuclearization talks. “There will be more high-quality conversations regarding denuclearization between the new task forces.”
Both North Korea and the U.S. recognize how they are planning to push for denuclearization through Hanoi Summit. Through this meeting, they informed the world about their plan to resume denuclearization talks and they opened a way to third North Korea-U.S. summit. How much a bond of sympathy between new task forces of North Korea and the U.S. is formed related to denuclearization will determine a success of the next summit between President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim.
It is expected that President Moon Jae-in’s role as a facilitator and a mediator for meetings between North Korea and the U.S. will continue to expand. Although this meeting focuses on the meeting between North Korea and the U.S., it is likely that importance of President Moon’s roles will be much higher during denuclearization talks in the future. It is expected that President Moon will actively push for a summit between South Korea and North Korea in order to drive denuclearization talks.
“Although there were times when North Korea and the U.S. criticized each other after Hanoi Summit, this surprise meeting became an important opportunity for them to wash away any bitter feeling.” said an expert on North Korea. “It was a meaningful meeting as President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim both have had a mutual understanding of being more active towards denuclearization talks.”
President Moon said that President Trump is the main character for trying to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula while expressing his deepest thanks to President Trump for achieving a historical meeting.

Photo Image
<Leaders of South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. met for the first time at Panmunjom since an armistice agreement 66 years ago. (Picture: The Blue House’s Facebook)>

◊The Blue House sees momentum building in talks between North Korea and the U.S.
The Blue House mentioned that the meeting between leaders of the three countries and the third meeting for President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim happening all at once at Panmunjom is another historical feat. “We highly value serious efforts by President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim.” said Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs Yoon Do-han during a briefing that was held right after the meeting between the two leaders. “We expect that there will be a momentum on talks between North Korea and the U.S.”
“President Moon is also doing his best so that this meeting will bring positive impact on peace within the Korean Peninsula.” said Senior Presidential Secretary Yoon. “We hope that everyone does his or her best to eliminate wars from this world.”
Regarding a possibility of the fourth summit between South Korea and North Korea, a high-ranking official from the Blue House stated that it is too early to discuss about any detail and that it would make a decision after looking at information from the talks between North Korea and the U.S.
Meanwhile, President Moon and President Trump observed North Korea from OP, which is a guard post located in the northernmost of DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). OP comes from an American private soldier who died while defending line of defense near Naktong River during Korean War.
They visited Camp Bonifas afterwards and encouraged militaries of South Korea and the U.S. “JSA (Joint Security Area) is now becoming a symbol of peace from a symbol of confrontation and conflict.” said President Moon. “You guys are part of this great change in history and President Trump is the main character who is leading this great change.”
Staff Reporter Sung, Hyeonhee | sunghh@etnews.com