Current Korea

North Korea-United States
Summit

Historic Leap Toward an Age of Peace and Co-prosperity

“The success of this summit is attributable to many people,
but I’d like to thank President Moon Jae-in for calling the Inter-Korean Summit.
If it had not been for his efforts, the talks between President Donald Trump and
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would not have been possible.”

- Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, at Cheong Wa Dae after the North Korea-United States Summit -

Written by Park Ji-yeon Photos courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

June 12 Agreement

The North Korea-United States Summit was held at the Capella Hotel in Singapore’s Sentosa Island on June 12. Commenting the summit, President Moon Jae-in said, “There are various opinions about the achievements of the summit, but what is more important than anything else is that it has enabled Americans, Japanese, Koreans and other people around the world to break away from the threats of war, nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. The summit was of tremendous value, even if only for this factor.” He called it a historic transition from an era of war to an era of peace and co-prosperity, not only for the Korean Peninsula, but also for the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Cheong Wa Dae after the summit to brief President Moon on the outcome of the meeting. He first thanked President Moon for his endeavors and promised to cooperate on bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula. President Moon praised U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their “courage and determination” in taking “a daring step toward change, instead of settling for that outdated and familiar reality.” He also hoped that the June 12 agreement “be recorded as a historic event that has helped break down one of the few remaining Cold War legacies on Earth.”

Efforts Behind the Success of the
North Korea-United States Summit

Pompeo thanked President Moon for driving the success of the North Korea-United States Summit, and there is no denying that South Korea has played a key role in engaging the North. On May 10, Trump announced that he would hold a meeting with Kim to “make a very special moment for world peace.” This was followed by differences of opinion between North Korea and the United States on what constitutes “complete denuclearization.” On May 19, President Moon exchanged phone calls with Trump to discuss the North Korean issue.
He then flew to Washington on May 22 for a meeting with Trump at the White House and showed his active support for the success of the North Korea-United States Summit. After all, the fate and future of the Korean Peninsula depended on how the summit would turn out. On May 24, Trump cancelled the summit in a formal letter to Kim, and prospects for progress began to look bleak. The next day, North Korea took a step back and said, “Our commitment to doing our best for the sake of peace and stability for the world and the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged.” This revived the June 12 North Korea-United States Summit and President Moon held a second Inter-Korean Summit meeting with chairman Kim Jong Un on May 26.
He conveyed to Kim in-person his sincere wishes for peace on the Korean Peninsula. These efforts led to the success of the North Korea-United States Summit, which took place on June 12, as scheduled.

Based on the agreement made at the North Korea-United States Summit, the two Koreas and the United States have now started a new chapter in their history, one of peace and cooperation. It is only the beginning, and the journey ahead will not be easy. The Korean government has been committed to establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and it is hoped that such efforts will eventually bear fruit in a new age of co-existence, prosperity and peace.