Korean Peace: North And South Hold Historic Summit, Vow To End Hostilities

In the early hours of Friday, Kim Jong-un became the first North Korean leader to visit the South in 65 years. The leader was all smiles when he met South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and the two men were even pictured holding hands. Yet, the outcome of the meeting has been both hailed as a landmark achievement and criticized by some Western countries for lacking a detailed roadmap. Here is what the two Korean leaders have actually agreed on as they made history in the demilitarized zone.

Complete denuclearization

In a move which would have seemed impossible – or at least highly unlikely – just months ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have confirmed their goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

“South and North Korea affirmed their shared objective of achieving a nuclear-free Korean peninsula through complete denuclearization,”reads the declaration signed by the leaders of the two countries, as quoted by Yonhap.

“There will be no more war on the Korean peninsula, and a new age of peace has opened,” the document reads. It does not list specific measures on how the peninsula will be rid of nuclear weapons. However, North Korea has previously used the term“denuclearization” to say it can disarm only when the US withdraws its 28,500 troops from South Korea.

Send them home, Donald.

They bring nothing to the table except the Asian wives they like to bring back to the States on occasion – note that the Koreans (especially older ones) hate the idea of miscegenation.

Halting all hostile acts

Kim and Moon have agreed to stop all hostile acts over “land, sea, and air,” which can lead to military tensions and clashes. Beginning on May 1, all the loudspeaker propaganda the two countries have been blaring at each other will be suspended. Broadcasting equipment will also be dismantled.

In addition, the two sides have agreed to stop flying propaganda leaflets across the border. They also agreed to take steps to defuse somewhat frequent clashes around their western maritime border by designating the area as a “peace zone.”Safe operation of fishermen from both countries will also be guaranteed.

The two sides plan to hold military talks next month to further discuss reducing tensions.

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In addition, the two leaders said that Pyongyang and Seoul will aim to expand civilian exchanges and pursue joint sports and cultural events. That agreement comes after the two sides competed in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics under a unified flag in a landmark move.

Kim and Moon have also agreed that the South Korean leader will visit Pyongyang sometime this autumn. In addition, the two leaders will meet on a regular basis and hold phone calls via a recently established hotline.

Some experts are already speculating about a reunification that could occur in coming years – my guess is that any sort of agreement would involve a dual government that would prevent either side from dominating the other.

In fact, I personally think that a combination of the South’s technological expertise and the North’s traditionalism (it’s true that Communism in its Juche form helped to preserve some parts of Korean heritage) could lead to very great things if left alone to merge in peace.

It would just fall to the question of whether America would be willing to at last withdraw from a region that they have no business occupying, and no business corrupting.