Denuclearization tops summit agenda: minister
By Kim Bo-eun
The two Koreas have no differences over discussing denuclearization in the upcoming inter-Korean summit, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Tuesday.
“The summit agenda will include denuclearization, promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and enhancing inter-Korean relations. These are key issues of the summit. Regarding this, there are no differences between the two Koreas,” Cho told reporters.
The minister said an additional high-level meeting will be held just before the summit Friday to have in-depth discussions on these topics.
Meanwhile, a high-level unification ministry official said North Korea's declaration Saturday that it will suspend nuclear and missile tests and shut down the Punggye-ri nuclear test site shows the regime's willingness to move toward denuclearization.
“(Its statement) that it would shut down its Pyunggye-ri test site shows North Korea's willingness for negotiations toward denuclearization,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, after the briefing.
While Pyongyang's announcement was welcomed by the international community, skepticism has lingered, because the regime did not state it would give up the nuclear weapons it already has. North Korea explicitly said nuclear and missile tests will be halted because there is no need for them, as it has completed the development of nuclear weapons.
The official's remarks were made as final preparations are taking place for the inter-Korean summit Friday.
It is yet to be seen how far the discussion on denuclearization will go between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“Because the issue of denuclearization needs to be addressed between North Korea and the U.S., it will be dealt with to the extent that the Pyongyang-Washington summit can be held successfully,” the official said.
However, he made it clear that “South Korea's goal is complete denuclearization (of the North),” which he stated is not different from the complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement that Washington has called for.
There has also been speculation that the leaders of the North and South may discuss prospects of ending the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice.
The Koreas agreed for the summit to cover three main areas _ North Korea's denuclearization, achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and developing inter-Korean relations.
The official said, “Measures will be taken to ease military tension as part of efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Cheong Wa Dae had considered sending National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service director Suh Hoon as envoys to prepare for the summit, but stated Tuesday that this was now unlikely.
Chung and Suh were part of a delegation that met with Kim in Pyongyang last month. The inter-Korean summit was arranged in the meeting where Kim stated his willingness to give up the regime's nuclear arsenal if its security was ensured. The North Korean leader also expressed his wish to meet U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the denuclearization issue, and a meeting between the leaders was set after Trump agreed to hold talks. The Pyongyang-Washington summit will take place in late May or June.
A hotline directly connecting the heads of the two Koreas was installed last week, raising speculation that the line would be used for a call before the summit.
However, a high-level Cheong Wa Dae official implied earlier in the day that the leaders may not hold the call before the summit, stating, “It may be awkward for the leaders, who have not met in person, to speak on the phone.”