Leaders of two Koreas discuss a joint statement

The joint statement said both sides will seek an agreement to maintain long-term and sustainable peace on the Korean peninsula. They agreed to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, and transform the Demilitarized Zone into a peace zone as of May 1. They were also in agreement to actively pursue multilateral meetings involving the United States.

In another development, 10 representatives attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Singapore appreciated the progress on the Korean peninsula and expected to see a positive outcome from the Inter-Korean summit as well as the coming US-Inter-Korean summit to obtain a peaceful, sustainable solution for denuclearization.

A speaker of the South Korean President’s Palace, Jong-seok, said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un underscored that he visited the south to prevent confrontation on the Korean peninsula. Kim told South Korean President Moon that he won't be interrupted from sleep anymore, referring to nuclear missile tests. Before the summit, Kim announced his intention to halt missile tests during diplomatic activities.

China hailed both Korean leaders for the talks and called their hand-shake at the military line dividing the Koreas a historic moment. Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press conference that China appreciates historical progress between the two countries and the leaders’ political decision and bravery.

South Korea’s political parties spoke highly of the summit and expected both sides to provide specific solutions toward peace and denuclearization. Opposition parties expressed their optimism and called on President Moon to increase efforts to obtain a specific agreement. The business community said any outcomes from the talks will boost inter-Korean economic cooperation to a new level.