By Sohn JiAe

South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit on April 27 at the Peace House in Panmunjeom.

The two sides released a joint statement that finalized the exact date and location of the upcoming inter-Korean talks, following high-level talks on the summit that were held at the Panmunjeom Tongilgak Pavilion on March 29. The talks were attended by the South’s Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-Gyon and the North’s Chairman Ri Son-gwon of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

The joint statement also said that the two Koreas decided to hold working-level talks on April 4 regarding protocol and security, and regarding press coverage for the summit that will take place on the southern side of Panmunjeom. The specific date and venue of the working-level talks related to communication matters will be decided subsequently.

In addition, the South and the North will discuss further practical matters via the exchange of documents.

“Today, both sides exchanged their opinions on matters like a possible agenda for the upcoming inter-Korean summit,” said Minister Cho in a press briefing after the high-level talks. “The two Koreas have decided to join forces to make the summit a success, based on our consensus about how historically significant the summit will be in terms of denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the inter-Korean relationship,” the minister said.

jiae5853@korea.kr