By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Edward Olivet Chiamaka from Nigeria
Photos = Korea.net DB

The relationship between South Korea and North Korea began in 1945 at the end of World War II with the division of the Korea Peninsula into a south and a north Korea. Since then, the two nations were involved in a conflict that erupted into open warfare in 1950, the Korean War, where many lives were lost, property destroyed and people displaced. This thwarted all efforts toward the goal of Korean reunification.

Inter-Korean Summits are meetings between the leaders of South Korea and North Korea. So far, there have been two major meetings, the first meeting in 2000 and the second in 2007.

The 2000 Inter-Korean Summit was the first time representatives of both governments met since the division of the Korean Peninsula. The meeting was headed by President Kim Dae-Jung of South Korea and the head of the North Korean National Defense Commission, Kim Jong Il, from June 13 to 15, 2000, in Pyeongyang. The outcome of the meeting was the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration.

The second 2007 Inter-Korean Summit was held between President Roh Moo-Hyun of South Korea and the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, in Pyeongyang from Oct. 2 to 4, 2007. The outcome of this meeting was the October 4 Declaration and the active promotion of inter-Korean economic cooperation and other items.

The 2018 Inter-Korean summit is scheduled to take place on April 27, 2018, on the South Korean side of the Joint Security Area between President Moon Jae-In of South Korea and Kim Jong Un of North Korea. The summit will be the third Inter-Korean Summit and the first in 11 years. It will also be the first time since the Korean War that a North Korean leader will enter South Korean territory. The summit is expected to focus on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the North Korean nuclear weapons program.



For a summit like this to happen, I feel it is already an achievement. The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have already shown us a glimpse of the beauty of both countries, South Korea and North Korea, working together toward one goal. This summit is another step in the right direction to having, one day, a unified Korea.

I am gladdened by the courage, initiative and decisions made by both leaders to hold this summit, as it will set an example to countries all over the world that military action and war, which can lead to loss of life and property, should not be an option in resolving conflict between countries, but rather diplomacy and peaceful negotiations should be the way forward.

I hope that the Korean people who share a common heritage, language and past will one day coexist peacefully with each other and share the beauty of a single Korea with the rest of the world. I also hope for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which will be one of the agenda items at the summit. Korea can show the world that denuclearization is possible: first Korea, and then the world, #DenuclearizePlanetEarth. I sincerely hope that the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit will be successful so that peace can reign across the Korean Peninsula and all of Northeast Asia. I pray and wish for the best possible outcome.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.