WASHINGTON — An end to the Korean War in return for the verified dismantling of its major North Korean nuclear facility: South Korea’s foreign minister on Wednesday proposed this tradeoff to unblock stalled negotiations between the United States and North Korea. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump held a groundbreaking summit in Singapore in June, where they reached a vague agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, but there has been little movement since. The North, which is under United Nations sanctions, has carried out six nuclear tests and says it has missiles that can hit the United States. "What North Korea has indicated is they will permanently dismantle their nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, which is a very big part of their nuclear programne," Seoul’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in an interview with The Washington Post. Her comments came ahead of a visit on Sunday by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to … [Read more...] about S.Korean minister proposes US-N.Korea tradeoff
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S. Korean president embarks on U.S. trip for summit with Trump on N. Korea
Moon's trip comes after his visit last week to the communist North where he held his third bilateral summit with leader Kim Jong-un. Moon will explain the outcome of the latest inter-Korean summit before the entire world when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly. However, his U.S. trip may be more aimed at explaining the summit outcome directly to the U.S. president. "President Moon is set to thoroughly explain the outcome of the third inter-Korean summit (in 2018) that was held under the interest of the entire world," said Nam Gwan-pyo, a senior director from the presidential National Security Office. Moon "will hold in-depth discussions (with Trump) on ways to break the impasse in North Korea-U.S. talks and to improve North Korea-U.S. relations," Nam told reporters earlier. The Moon-Trump summit is scheduled to be held Monday (New York time). The latest Moon-Kim summit marked the third of its kind held since Moon took office in May 2017 and was the fifth inter-Korean … [Read more...] about S. Korean president embarks on U.S. trip for summit with Trump on N. Korea
Moon landing: S. Korean leader arrives in Pyongyang for summit
Viet Nam News SEOUL — South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for his third summit this year with Kim Jong Un as he seeks to reboot stalled denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the United States. Kim welcomed his visitor at Pyongyang’s international airport - where he supervised missile launches last year as tensions mounted - the two men embracing after Moon walked down the steps of his aircraft. Accompanied by their wives, they exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes ahead of a military welcome ceremony as hundreds of people lining the tarmac cheered, waving North Korean flags and unification ones showing an undivided peninsula. "Let’s open an era of peace and prosperity with the solidarity of one people," read a hoarding displayed outside the terminal. Moon is on a three-day trip, following in the footsteps of his predecessors Kim Dae-jung in 2000 and mentor Roh Moo-hyun in 2007. The North’s Korean Central News … [Read more...] about Moon landing: S. Korean leader arrives in Pyongyang for summit
S. Korean PM describes Trump as ‘tough dealer’
"President Trump has a sixth sense. He must have gone through a number of things from deal-making experiences. The closest thing to describe him would be a tough dealer," Lee said Sunday during a meeting in London with reporters traveling together with him on a European trip. As North Korea stepped up criticism of the United States with threats to reconsider their June 12 summit in Singapore, Trump struck back by calling the planned meeting off altogether last week in a surprising move that took Pyongyang completely off guard. Trump's tactic worked as the North immediately asked for the summit to go ahead as scheduled. On Sunday, senior officials of the U.S. and the North held pre-summit negotiations at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also held a surprise meeting at Panmunjom on Saturday. The North's leader first asked for a meeting with Moon. "It's not that President Moon first asked to play a … [Read more...] about S. Korean PM describes Trump as ‘tough dealer’
South Korean president asks UN to verify closure of North’s test site
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has asked the United Nations to verify the planned closure of North Korea's nuclear test site, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday (May 1). North Korea's missile and nuclear tests. (AFP/Laurence CHU) Moon made the request in a phone call to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, a few days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the South Korean leader he planned to shut down the test site in May. "The president sought the support of the United Nations to verify the imminent closure of the DPRK's nuclear test site, as announced by the DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is North Korea's official name. Moon also asked for UN support to "transform the demilitarised zone into a peace zone" between the two Koreas, he added. Guterres said the United Nations was ready to discuss possible forms of support, but no details were provided. The Vienna-based … [Read more...] about South Korean president asks UN to verify closure of North’s test site
Korean President joins groundbreaking ceremony of VKIST
Korean President Moon Jae-in and Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh attended in the ceremony. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Vietnamese leader said that the Vietnam- Korea cooperation relationship has harvested good results during past 25 years, especially since the establishment of the strategical partnership relations in 2009. The establishment of VKIST is an evidence for the blossomed cooperation ties between the two nations. The Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology will play an important role in providing technology solutions, serving the industry and sustainable development of Vietnam. The Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed that the ground-breaking ceremony of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology is remarkable event in supporting Vietnam's science and technology development as well as the close ties between Vietnam and Korea in all sectors. The strengthening of cooperation to promote Vietnam's … [Read more...] about Korean President joins groundbreaking ceremony of VKIST
50 years after Hà My Village massacre: S.Korean-VN Peace Foundation says ’sorry’
Viet Nam News QUẢNG NAM — “We convey our apology to the Vietnamese people. Please, forgive us, even if our apology is not sufficient for all Vietnamese people and residents of Hà My Village.” The president of the Korea-Vietnam Peace Foundation, Kang U-Il, gave an emotional speech at an event marking 50 years since a massacre committed by South Korean soldiers in Hà My Tây Village, in the central province of Quảng Nam, on Sunday. A group of 41 members from the foundation, a member of the Korean National Assembly, Korean writers, organisations, local residents and relatives of victims attended a ceremony and visited the monument dedicated to the massacre in the village. The killings occurred on the 24th of the first lunar month, 1968, in Hà My Village, when South Korean soldiers attacked and killed 135 unarmed civilians including the elderly and new born babies. The monument records the oldest victim as being 88 years old, while the … [Read more...] about 50 years after Hà My Village massacre: S.Korean-VN Peace Foundation says ’sorry’
South Korean president meets North Korean leaders
South Korean President Moon Jae-in meets with high-ranking leaders of North Korea at the Presidential Palace in Seoul (Source: Reuters) The historic meeting began at 11am local time at the Presidential Palace in Seoul. The 22 people delegation, led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, arrived in South Korea on Friday. Other senior delegates are Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean top leader, Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a brief exchange with Kim Yong Nam and reiterated his expectation for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. … [Read more...] about South Korean president meets North Korean leaders
North Korea’s Kim invites S Korean president for summit: S Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang "at an early date," South Korean officials said on Saturday, potentially setting up the first meeting of Korean leaders in more than 10 years. Any meeting would represent a diplomatic coup for Moon, who swept to power last year on a policy of engaging more with the reclusive North. The recent detente, anchored by South Korea's hosting of the Winter Olympic Games, came despite an acceleration in the North's weapons programme last year and pressure from Seoul's allies in Washington. The invitation came during talks and a lunch Moon hosted with Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of the North Korean leader, at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. Kim Jong Un wanted to meet Moon "at an early date", a spokesman for the Blue House said. Moon had said "let's create conditions to make it happen", the official said, an indication that Moon was likely to accept the invitation. Kim Yo Jong arrived in South … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim invites S Korean president for summit: S Korea
S Korean leader hails Vietnam’s amazing U23 Asian Cup run
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has posted on social media to congratulate Vietnam for its success at the AFC U23 Championship, and for the spirit of its young players in the freezing final match on Saturday. “I saw real sporting spirit in the blizzard,” Moon said in a Facebook post published in Korean on Saturday night, after Vietnam’s defeat to Uzbekistan. “The spirit reached its peak in the blizzard,” he said, referring to the heavy snow in Changzhou, China, which forced a long break for the snow to be cleared. That same spirit also won the team the Fair Play Award besides silver medals. Moon sent “applause” to the team and their South Korean coach Park Hang-seo. South Korea itself finished fourth in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship, which gathered 16 teams from across the region. Vietnam, considered the underdog at the start of the game, has won numerous plaudits by beating top competitors to earn a place … [Read more...] about S Korean leader hails Vietnam’s amazing U23 Asian Cup run