On May 26, just one month after the first summit...
May 2018 Inter-Korean Summit
"The South and the North should continue to meet this way, just like friends spending time together."
“I believe the South and the North should continue to meet this way.”
Just one month after the first summit at the Peace House in Panmunjeom, a second inter-Korean summit of 2018 was held at the Thongil House in Panmunjeom.
At the April 2018 Inter-Korean summit, the leaders of the two Koreas promised to meet at any time and at any place without any formality and to join hands to discuss matters of mutual importance. Just one month after the first summit at the Peace House in Panmunjeom, a second inter-Korean summit of 2018 was held at the Thongil House in Panmunjeom.
01 The Two Leaders are Brought Closer Together
by Staying True to Their Promise to Meet at Any Time, Any Place
At the April 2018 Inter-Korean summit, the leaders of the two Koreas promised to meet at any time and at any place without any formality and to join hands to discuss matters of mutual importance.
On the afternoon on May 25, Chairman Kim Jong Un requested a meeting with President Moon Jae-in in a casual manner, and President Moon willingly agreed. This second inter-Korean summit of 2018, arranged swiftly and without the attendant formalities, is as significant as the first, as it's the product of the two sides' commitment to ensuring regular meetings and direct communication between the two leaders and their commitment to putting the days of confrontation and discord between the two Koreas in the past.
02 Overview and Significance
of the May 2018 Inter-Korean Summit
North Korea's commitment to denuclearization was reaffirmed
The leaders of the two Koreas held candid talks at the May 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, with the U.S.-North Korea summit just around the corner.
President Moon explained the results of the May 22 South Korea-U.S. summit and relayed the determination of the U.S. to put an end to hostile relations and initiate economic cooperation with the North once Chairman Kim takes action toward complete denuclearization. President Moon also emphasized that direct communication is important to prevent any possible misunderstandings between Chairman Kim and President Trump, and that sufficient preliminary working-level talks regarding the agenda of the U.S.-North Korea summit must take place to ensure success. Chairman Kim fully agreed with President Moon.
Chairman Kim once again affirmed his commitment to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, as per the Panmunjeom Declaration.
He also expressed his desire to make the U.S.-North Korea summit a success in order to move beyond the days of division and conflict and to cooperate on creating peace and prosperity. The leaders of the two Koreas reaffirmed their determination to continue their journey toward complete denuclearization and toward permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and to closely cooperate with each other on accomplishing this goal.
Vowing a Swift Implementation of the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration
The leaders of the two Koreas met again at the Thongil House in Panmunjeom just one month after the issuance of the Panmunjeom Declaration and reaffirmed their shared commitment to the swift implementation of the declaration.
They agreed to hold inter-Korean high-level talks on June 1, as well as talks between military authorities concerning the elimination of military tension, and Red Cross talks concerning the reunions of war-torn families, one after the other. The two leaders highlighted the significance of the fact that the May summit was organized rapidly without any formality, just as the need arose, and pledged to continue to have such candid talks with each other whenever necessary, through both meetings and phone calls.
Steps Taken to Hold Inter-Korean Summits on a Regular, Frequent Basis
The leaders of the two Koreas contacted each other and made arrangements to meet in a casual manner, just as two close friends would meet, bypassing the typical formalities, all in order to put their heads together to deal with urgent issues that are at hand.
It is indeed important to hold regular summits, in compliance with relevant procedures and formalities, as with the April 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and the upcoming 2018 Inter-Korean Summit Pyeongyang, to ensure the advancement of the inter-Korean relationship. However, if the South and the North were to meet casually between regular summits, whenever the need arises, and if they were to have prompt, in-depth discussions about urgent issues, at alternating venues between the southern and northern sides of Panmunjeom, then the two Koreas would truly be brought closer together ever more rapidly.
