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Korean leaders declare commitment to peace
Seoul (AFP) Oct 4, 2007 The North and South Korean leaders called Thursday for a nuclear-free peninsula and a permanent peace pact to end the world's last Cold War divide as they wrapped up a rare summit. The historic foes agreed to step up trade, travel and political exchanges, including starting a freight train between the impoverished communist North and prosperous South, and flights for the growing number of South Korean tourists. North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il, dressed in his trademark khaki jumpsuit, smiled, shook hands and clinked champagne glasses with President Roh Moo-Hyun, only the second South Korean leader ever to visit Pyongyang. The two leaders, closing the three-day summit, signed an agreement pledging to work for a permanent peace between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict halted with only an armistice. "The South and North will not take a hostile stance towards each other and will reduce military tension and resolve issues of conflict through dialogue and negotiation," the joint declaration said. It called for a summit by leaders of "three or four countries" to declare a formal end to the Korean War. The United States and China also fought in the war on opposite sides, meaning their signatures are necessary to finish it. The White House said that a peace treaty formally ending the Korean war and the normalization of US-North Korean ties would depend on Kim's regime abiding by the agreement to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme. North Korea watchers, meanwhile, voiced some surprise at the breadth of the agreement as expectations had been low. Roh, a diehard advocate of reconciling with the North, leaves office in only four months. "The summit produced better results than many earlier predicted, especially in economic cooperation and peace," said Kim Yeon-Chul, a professor at Korea University's Asiatic Research Center. Kim Jong-Il and Roh agreed in the declaration to try to ensure that existing agreements on shutting down the North's nuclear programme are implemented smoothly. The statement means Kim Jong-Il has personally signed up to denuclearisation efforts almost a year after his regime tested an atomic weapon. In a six-nation agreement made public late Wednesday, the North agreed to declare all its nuclear programmes and disable its main atomic reactor by the end of the year under US supervision. Roh was visibly upbeat as he left Pyongyang. He planted a tree and waved with a smile as he was seen off by Kim Yong-Nam, the North's titular number two leader, and a lively brass marching band in blue uniforms. He then greeted North Korean workers making garments in Kaesong, a South Korean-funded industrial complex in the North which has become a symbol of the growing relationship. South Korea's conservative opposition, whose presidential candidate was well ahead to succeed Roh in polls taken before the summit, acknowledged the meeting yielded results but regretted that Kim made no fresh pledge to give up nuclear weapons. "There should be no rush to make a peace declaration without nuclear dismantlement," said Lee Myung-bak, the front-runner in December's election. The joint statement called for more inter-Korean summits. Kim used the spotlight to emphatically deny rumours that he is suffering from heart disease, diabetes or other health problems. The summit also set up meetings in November between their prime ministers in Seoul and defence ministers in Pyongyang. The defence ministers will discuss the agreement's call to create a "peace zone" in the disputed western sea border -- scene of bloody naval clashes in 1999 and 2002. Kim and Roh agreed to expand economic cooperation, constructing a joint shipbuilding complex and setting up a special economic zone. A cross-border railway line will open for freight traffic. The leaders also said they would open a first direct air route -- from Seoul to Mount Paektu, a sacred mountain for Koreans which South Koreans can now reach only by transiting via China. But relatives of some of the hundreds of South Koreans kidnapped by the North in past decades were disappointed. "What we asked for was only to let us know if our families there are alive," said Choi Sung-Yong, head of a group representing abduction victims. Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
US prepares to disable North Korean nuclear arsenal
Washington (AFP) Oct 4, 2007The United States is preparing to send experts to North Korea to launch a groundbreaking effort to disable the hardline communist state's nuclear weapons arsenal following a six-nation agreement. |
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