The leaders of South Korea and North Korea reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula Friday, while also agreeing to reduce their conventional weapons pending the outcome of their joint efforts to reduce military tension and promote a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The agreement came in a historic summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million people of our nation and the entire world that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and a new age of peace has opened," they said in a joint declaration signed at the end of their bilateral meeting at the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom.
(Cheong Wa Dae)
The two leaders vowed efforts to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"The South and the North reaffirmed their agreement of non-aggression that they will not use any form of force against each other and agreed to strictly abide by the agreement," the joint declaration said.
"The South and the North agreed to gradually realize arms reduction when their military tension is removed and trust is practically established."
Moon and Kim also reaffirmed the countries' earlier agreement to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
"The South and the North affirmed their mutual goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization," the released statement said.
To formally end the Korean War, the two Koreas agreed to push for three-way or four-way talks involving the United States and China to replace the Korean armistice with a peace treaty.
The two Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Efforts to reduce military tension will include a complete halt to any type of hostility against each other in all areas, including sea and air.
To discuss additional measures, the two Koreas will hold general-grade military talks before the end of May.
Further, the leaders agreed to a range of measures aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the divided Koreas.
First, the countries will hold high-level dialogue in the near future to discuss ways to implement the agreement reached at the third inter-Korean summit, they said.
They will also promote cooperation and exchange between the countries to further the process of reconciliation.
To this end, the countries will hold Red Cross talks to discuss humanitarian issues, including the long-stalled reunions of families separated by the division of the two Koreas.
They will seek to resume family reunions on the occasion of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day, the joint declaration said. (Yonhap)
