North, South Korea agree on ‘complete denuclearization’

The leaders of North and South Korea agreed on Friday for “complete denuclearization” and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to local media reports. 

The deal followed a historic bilateral summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom in the South.  

"The two leaders solemnly declared [...] that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and a new age of peace has dawned," they said in a joint declaration after the summit, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported. 

They also reaffirmed the countries' earlier agreement for “a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization”. 

Yonhap said the two Koreas agreed to push for three- or four-way talks involving the U.S. and China to replace the cease-fire agreement that brought the Korean War to a tentative close in 1953. 

The South and North “will not use any form of force against each other,” Yonhap cited the joint declaration as saying. 

Moon and Kim also “agreed to gradually realize arms reduction when their military tension is removed and trust is practically established." 

The two sides are to follow up with general-level military talks by the end of next month, along with Red Cross dialogue to handle humanitarian matters such as reunions for relatives separated by their heavily guarded border.

Meanwhile, Moon and Kim were joined by the latter's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who crossed into the South later in the day to attend an evening banquet featuring renowned dishes from both sides of the border.