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South and North Korea agree on holding summit on April 27

North Korea and South Korea on Thursday set a date for a rare inter-Korean summit, following a high-level meeting, reports…

South and North Korea agree on holding summit on April 27

Kim Jong-un (Left), Moon Jae-in (Right) Photo: AFP

North Korea and South Korea on Thursday set a date for a rare inter-Korean summit, following a high-level meeting, reports say.

The two leaders — South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — will meet on April 27 at the Peace House on the southern side of the border village of Panmunjom for the first time since 2007.

“According to the will of both leaders, the South and North agreed to hold the ‘2018 South-North summit’ on April 27 at the South’s Peace House in Panmunjom,” said a joint press statement, read out in turn by both delegations’ leaders.

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It will mark the third inter-Korean summit following those in 2000 and 2007 which were held in Pyongyang.

Senior officials from both sides exchanged views in an amicable atmosphere, reflecting the recent detente on the Korean Peninsula.

“Over the past 80 days, there have been many dramatic events that have not been seen earlier,” Ri Son-gwon, the North’s chief delegate, said at the start of the meeting.

According to media reports, the meeting between Kim and Moon will be followed by historic talks with US President Donald Trump which could come as early as May.

The April summit will likely serve as a critical venue for discussions to resolve the North Korea’s nuclear power issue.

Thursday’s talks came after Kim made a surprise visit to China this week for his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his meetings with Moon and US President Donald Trump in May.

South Korea’s Moon has long been pushing hard for diplomatic relations with North Korea, saying at his swearing-in ceremony in 2017 “for peace on the Korean Peninsula, I will do everything that I can do”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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