Leaders of two Koreas vow efforts to make 'good progress' at summit

PANMUNJOM/GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed sincere efforts to make progress at their bilateral summit Friday in the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom, which Moon said now symbolizes peace, instead of division.The historic summit began after the leaders met for the first time at the Military Demarcation Line inside the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone."It is good to see you," Kim said to Moon, waiting just south of the MD

April 27, 2018

Parties hail Moon-Kim meeting, express hopes for peace, denuclearization

Political parties on Friday welcomed the start of a historic summit between the leaders of South and North Korea, voicing hopes for steps toward peace on the peninsula and the North's denuclearization. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had their first encounter early Friday, marking the third summit of its kind in history and the first in 11 years.The ruling Democratic Party said it expects "a big achievement" from the summit that will help bring peace on the

April 27, 2018

[Video] Main press center erupts into applause as inter-Korean summit kicks off

Reporters generally don’t clap at the events they’re covering, largely to remain impartial. It’s particularly true for South Korean reporters who usually maintain a calm, if not stoic, attitude at official events, no matter how big.But a rare moment occurred on Friday. Local and international reporters gathered at the main press center set up in an exhibition hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, erupted into a heartfelt applause at the historic start of the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years. T

April 27, 2018

Foreign journalists hold out hope with subdued expectations ahead of summit

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province -- Foreign journalists covering the historic inter-Korean summit shared the sense of cautious optimism on Friday, but some called for toning down expectations, saying that a one-off event might not be enough to produce a breakthrough from a decadeslong stalemate.As of 12:00 p.m. on Friday, a total of 3,051 journalists and media staff had signed up with the press center that the Seoul government set up for the summit in Goyang, north of Seoul. Of them, some 900 came from

April 27, 2018

[2018 Inter-Korean summit] NK leader’s first step on South Korean soil

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un crossed the inter-Korean border early Friday, for the first sit-down meeting between the two at the truce village of Panmunjeom early Friday.With a smile on his face, Kim shook hands with South Korean President Moon after stepping out of Panmungak, a North Korean building that houses its liaison office to arrive in front of the military demarcation line. He crossed the border after shaking hands and exchanging a brief greeting with Moon. But instead of heading stra

April 27, 2018

Japan says it expects summit to feature serious discussion of N. Korean nukes, missiles

TOKYO -- The Japanese government said Friday it expects the leaders of the two Koreas will have "serious" discussions on denuclearization shortly after President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un began their talks at the border.Tokyo also expects the summit to feature "positive" discussions to resolve the issues of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, as well as the North's nuclear and missile programs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in a press briefing.(Yonhap)

April 27, 2018

[Breaking] Inter-Korean summit kicks off

The third inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un began at 10:15 a.m. on Friday at the Peace House on the South’s side of Panmunjeom. This is the first time a North Korean leader has set foot south of the border since before the 1950-53 Korean War. (Cheong Wa Dae)(Yonhap)At the summit table, Moon was flanked by his chief of staff Im Jong-seok and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon. Kim was accompanied by Kim Yong-chol and his sister Kim

April 27, 2018

First Moon-Kim encounter draws 34% viewership in Korea

More than 34 percent of South Korean TV viewers in the capital area watched the historic first encounter between the country's President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday, a media researcher said.The scene of the two leaders' first encounter on the southern side of the border village of Panmunjom was broadcast live on three major TV networks, four general programming cable channels and two all-news cable channels.The 34.06 percent viewership recorded from 9:29-30 a.m. was

April 27, 2018

Kim Jong-un makes history, crosses border to meet his rival

With a single step over a weathered, cracked slab of concrete, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made history Friday by crossing over the world's most heavily armed border to greet South Korean President Moon Jae-in for talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons. Kim then invited Moon to cross briefly back into the north with him before they returned to the southern side. Those small steps must be seen in the context of the last year -- when the United States, its ally South Korea and the North seemed

April 27, 2018

NK leader makes historic crossing of inter-Korean border for summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emerged from a veil of secrecy Friday as he made a historic crossing of the tense inter-Korean border for a summit with President Moon Jae-in.In a black Mao-style suit, the reclusive state's leader came out of a border liaison office building in the North at the truce village of Panmunjom, flanked by his key aides and bodyguards, according to live TV footage.Kim walked toward a four-meter-wide pathway between two blue conference buildings -- called T2 and T3 -- st

April 27, 2018

A look at verbal exchanges between Trump, Kim and Moon

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump exchanged insults and threats of nuclear annihilation. Soft-spoken South Korean President Moon Jae-in struggled to be heard. And now Kim and Moon are meeting to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons ahead of Kim-Trump talks scheduled for May or June.    Here's a look at the whirlwind of verbal exchanges -- from "Rocket Man" to "very honorable" -- between the leaders in the months before a critical moment in global diplomacy: (Herad DB)  

April 27, 2018

[Photo News] Moon, Kim shake hands in historic meeting at border

President Moon Jae-in greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he crossed the border into South Korea at 9:30 a.m. for their day-long summit talks at Panmunjeom. This is the first time a North Korean leader has set foot south of the border since the end of the Korean War.The two leaders were all smiles as they shared a historic handshake, engaged in brief conversation and walked together toward the Peace House, where the summit is to take place. (Cheong Wa Dae) (Cheong Wa Dae) (Cheong Wa Dae)

April 27, 2018

US hopeful Koreas' summit will lead to peace, prosperity on peninsula: White House

WASHINGTON -- The White House expressed hope Thursday that the two Koreas' summit will lead to peace and prosperity on the peninsula. (Yonhap)"On the occasion of Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in's historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, we wish the Korean people well," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "We are hopeful that talks will achieve progress toward a future of peace and prosperity for the entire Korean Peninsula."The United States also

April 27, 2018

[Newsmaker] Two Koreas' leaders in historic handshake

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in shook hands Friday over the Military Demarcation Line that divides their countries in a gesture laden with symbolism ahead of a historic summit."I am happy to meet you," Moon told Kim before the visitor stepped over the line, making him the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War ended in an armistice 65 years ago.The two men briefly stepped back over the line into the North before walking to th

April 27, 2018

[Breaking] Kim inspects SK honor guard

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un began the official proceedings of the day-long summit meeting, with the two leaders inspecting the South Korean military honor guard at 9:34 a.m.  (Cheong Wa Dae) (Cheong Wa Dae) (Cheong Wa Dae)Moon and Kim met at the Military Demarcation Line at 9:29 a.m., and walked to the plaza outside the Peace House escorted by South Korea’s traditional ceremonial guard. This is the first time a North Korean leader has reviewed the South’s military h

April 27, 2018

[Breaking] Moon greets NK leader as he crosses border into South

President Moon Jae-in greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he crossed the border into South Korea at 9:28 a.m. for their first summit talks at Panmunjeom. This is the first time a North Korean leader has set foot south of the border since before the 1950-53 Korean War, and the first inter-Korean summit since 2007.Prior to Friday, inter-Korean summits were held in 2000 and 2007. In the first inter-Korean summit, South Korea was represented by President Kim Dae-jung, and in the latter by Pre

April 27, 2018

Moon arrives at Panmunjom for historic inter-Korean summit

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in embarked on a short but historic journey Friday for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un aimed at discussing ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish lasting peace with the North. (KTV)Moon arrived at the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom shortly after 9 a.m., about one hour after he left his presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.His historic summit with Kim was set to start at 9:30 a.m.(Yonhap)

April 27, 2018

Leaders vow new era of peace at summit

[Analysis] Two Koreas’ commitment to ‘complete denuclearization’ raises hope, concernsTwo Koreas’ commitment to ‘complete denuclearization’ raises hope, concernsSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un confirmed “the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula” in a joint statement.[9:27 p.m.] NK leader, aides return to NorthNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accompanied by his top aides and wife Ri Sol-ju, returned to

April 27, 2018

NK leader to 'open-heartedly' talk with Moon at summit: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will "open-heartedly" discuss pending inter-Korean issues with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a historic summit Friday, the North's state media said.The North's leader left Pyongyang early Friday for a summit that will be held for the first time at the border truce village of Panmunjom, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an exceptionally swift manner.Kim "will open-heartedly discuss with (President) Moon Jae-in all the issues arising in improving

April 27, 2018

Who are nine NK officials accompanying Kim Jong-un?

Expectations for Friday’s inter-Korean summit have been heightened by the caliber of his nine-member entourage. The North’s delegation includes a total of nine senior party, military and government officials, including Kim Yo-jong, the first vice department director of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s central committee, and Kim Yong-nam, the North’s ceremonial head of state, chief presidential secretary Im Jong-seok told a news briefing Thursday. 　According to experts, Kim’s pick shows that

April 26, 2018