By Pyeongyang Press Corps

Media outlets from around the world have emphasized the possibility that the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit Pyeongyang could make progress in the stalled denuclearization talks.

International journalists published major coverage of the arrival of President Moon Jae-in and his spouse and the welcoming ceremony at Pyeongyang International Airport earlier on Sept. 18, where the presidential couple was warmly greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju.

Leading dailies from around the world, including The Washington Post of the U.S., the U.K.-based The Guardian and El Mundo in Spain, all said that the latest inter-Korean summit could make substantial progress only if it were to resolve the impasse in denuclearization dialogue. In an article titled “Korean leaders meet in Pyongyang for potentially tough talks,” The Washington Post said that, “South Korean President Moon Jae-in began his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday with possibly his hardest mission to date — brokering some kind of compromise to keep North Korea’s talks with Washington from imploding.”

The Guardian said that, “Moon is hoping to mediate an impasse between the United States and the North over the latter’s nuclear weapons program.” The U.K. paper said that, “North Korea’s nuclear program is at the top of Moon’s agenda as he tries to get Kim to provide details on his previous commitment to the 'complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.’”

China’s Xinhua News on Sept. 17 quoted Wang Junsheng, associate professor in the Department of China’s Regional Strategy at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who said that President Moon would play a mediating role between North Korea and the U.S. during his visit to the North. Wang also said that President Moon would present a new way toward the next stage of denuclearization between Pyeongyang and Washington.




Japanese media outlets, such as state broadcaster NHK, the Sankei Shimbun daily and Kyodo News, all reported the latest Inter-Korean Summit as breaking news, while focusing on the possible progress in the denuclearization dialogue between North Korea and the U.S.

The Sankei Shimbun wrote about a press conference held by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. He emphasized the importance of complete and swift implementation of North Korea’s commitment to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, and ways to enact the agreement reached between Pyeongyang and Washington in regard to the third Inter-Korean Summit of 2018, all while expressing his expectations for these talks.

Overseas broadcasters around the world also highlighted President Moon’s Pyeongyang visit itself as it has been the first time in the past 11 years that a leader of South Korea has visited the North. CNN said that, “The historic three-day-trip marks the first time since 2007 that a South Korean president has traveled to the North.” The article also said that, “It was the first time Kim had greeted visitors at the airport since the young North Korean leader took power in 2011.” Mentioning the first-ever summit between leaders of the U.S. and North Korea three months ago, it also said that, “The third inter-Korean meeting comes as the diplomatic efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles appear to have hit an impasse.”

Regarding the first summit between President Moon and his North Korean counterpart back in this April, the BBC said, “When the two Korean leaders met for the first time back in April, the simple fact that they were meeting was itself a major step.” The BBC said that, “This time, Mr. Moon has to make real progress in persuading the North Koreans to make concrete steps to denuclearize.”

arete@korea.kr