The two-day summit — the third between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year — was being closely watched amid hopes it will energize nuclear talks between the United States that began earlier this year, reversing months of tensions that had prompted fears of a nuclear war.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a summit agreement Wednesday after ending two days of talks in Pyongyang.
The two leaders signed the deal at side-by-side desks, followed by applause. Following the signing ceremony, the defense chiefs of the two countries signed what was described as a comprehensive military agreement, with Kim and Moon standing behind them.
Details were not immediately released. Moon’s spokesman Yoon Young-chan said a joint press conference was expected to be held later to reveal the outcome.
The two-day summit — the third between the two men this year — was being closely watched amid hopes it will energize nuclear talks between the United States that began earlier this year, reversing months of tensions that had prompted fears of a nuclear war.
Moon was seeking to forge a compromise that would bring Pyongyang and Washington back to the table for nuclear talks that have deadlocked following a previous round of summits.
“I feel the great weight we must bear, along with a heavy responsibility,” Moon said Tuesday after flying to Pyongyang and receiving a warm reception from Kim. “I wish this summit will produce fruitful results as a gift to the 80 million Korean people for Chuseok,” an important holiday that begins on Monday.
The two leaders were expected to announce the outcome of their talks in a joint announcement later Wednesday, although Moon’s spokesman said no time has been set.
Kim’s powerful sister Kim Yo Jong arranged the papers and stood by his side as he signed the deal, according to footage broadcast live in Seoul.
Moon and Kim met at the state guest house where the South Korean delegation was staying. They held their first round of talks Tuesday at the headquarters for the North’s ruling Workers’ Party.
The president planned to attend North Korea’s mass games, a highly synchronized event involving tens of thousands of performers, following the meeting, Yoon said.
Moon has been thrust into the role of mediator as nuclear talks between the United States and the North have deadlocked over disarmament details.
He faces the challenge of trying to get the nuclear talks back on track while pressing for peace on the divided peninsula. It’s unclear how much progress he can make in persuading Kim to expand on his general commitment to denuclearization by agreeing to specific measures that would satisfy President Donald Trump.
Moon, a former human rights attorney and the son of North Korean refugees, previously met with Kim on April 27 and May 26 in the truce village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border. Two other inter-Korean summits were held in 2002 and 2007.
gamel.kim@stripes.com
Twitter: @kimgamel
