5th Inter Korea Summit Held

ROK President Moon Jae In and a large delegation visited the DPRK during September 18 (Tuesday) to September 20 (Thursday).

Moon arrived at Pyongyang International Airport during the morning of September 18.  Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) went out to the airport to greet Moon.  Also in attendance were Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (Kim Yo’ng-nam), Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Vice Chairman and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Choe Ryong Hae (Ch’oe Ryong-hae), WPK Vice Chairman and WPK United Front Department Director Kim Yong Chol (Kim Yo’ng-ch’o’l), WPK Vice Chairman and WPK International Affairs Department Director Ri Su Yong (Ri Su-yo’ng), DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo’ng-ho), Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. No Kwang Chol (No Kwang-ch’o’l), Pyongyang WPK Committee Chairman Kim Nung O (Kim Nu’ng-o), Chairman of the Peaceful Reunification of the Country Ri Son Gwon (Ri Son-kwon) and Pyongyang City People’s Committee Chairman Cha Hui Rim (Cha Hu’i-nim).  Also in attendance were Personal Secretariat senior officials Kim Yo Jong (Kim Yo’-cho’ng), Jo Yong Won (Cho Yo’ng-wo’n) and Kim Chang Son (Kim Ch’ang-son).

Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju greeted Moon and his wife Kim Jung Sook with KJU warmly welcoming Moon’s visit to the DPRK.  Moon “expressed his deep thanks to Kim Jong Un for warmly greeting him at the airport.”

A welcome ceremony consisting of a 21-gun salute and march-past of a Korean People’s Army [KPA] Honor Guard took place.  President Moon worked a rope line of Pyongyangites who welcomed him to the airport.

Moon was conveyed from Sunan-kuyo’k through Hyongjesan-kuyo’k in a motorcade under the escort of motorcycles under the Capital City People’s Security Department.  On the way into Pyongyang proper, Kim Jong Un and Moon waved to the crowd and traveled in an open-topped Mercedes Benz limousine to Paekhwawon State Guest House.

Moon and his immediate entourage were welcomed to Paekhwawon by the guesthouse workers.  DPRK Premier and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Pak Pong Ju and SPA Presidium Vice President and Korea Social Democratic Party Central Committee Chairman Kim Yong Dae (Kim Yo’ng-tae) greeted Moon and his wife.

During the afternoon of September 18, the fifth North-South high level summit took place at Jong Un’s headquarters, the WPK Central Committee Office Building #1.  Moon’s motorcade entered the Central Party Complex from its north side.  Moon and his entourage passed through the #1 Office Building’s ground floor entrance.

Jong Un “warmly greeted President Moon Jae In who visited the office building of the WPK and had a souvenir photo taken with him.”  Before going to the meeting room, Moon made an entry into the guest book which said, according to KCNA, “Single is the mind of all fellow countrymen for peace and prosperity! September 18, 2018. President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae In.”

Attending the 90-minute interaction were Kim Yong Chol and Kim Yo Jong and from ROK were Jong Ui Yong and NIS Director So Hun.  The KJU-MJI interaction was “an in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the P’anmunjo’m declaration in an all-round manner.”

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In “highly appreciated the present state of the north-south relations positively developing on good terms after the two meetings and talks held successfully this year, and had a frank and candid conversation over important matters of mutual concern.”

An art concert was presented at Pyongyang Grand Theater on September 18 to welcome Moon’s visit to the DPRK.  Kim Jong Un, Ri Sol Ju, Kim Yo Jong, Ri Su Yong, Kim Yong Chol and Ri Son Gwon attended the performance.

Moon and his wife were greeted by Hyon Song Wol (Hyo’n So’ng-wol) and other elite DPRK performers prior to going into the venue.  “Glad to See You” was played before an emcee began the concert.  The elite DPRK singers and players “presented the numbers vividly reflecting the unanimous desire of all Koreans for national reunification and national flavor, including orchestral music for kayagum ‘Arirang’, male solo ‘Thinking of Fellow’ and string ensemble and song ‘Morning Star’, through graceful melodies and smart dancing rhythms.”

Also performed were various South Korean and western songs as well as “Pyongyang Is Best” and “Dash Toward the Future.”  The concert was “greatly acclaimed by the audience.”  A floral basket from Moon Jae In and Kim Jung Sook was presented to the performers.  Jong Un took the stage with the ROK president to “congratulate the performers on their successful performance.”

Moon “expressed deep thanks to them for their warm welcome and excellent performance.”

Kim Jong Un gave a banquet for Moon Jae-in and the ROK delegation at the Mokran House on Tuesday evening.  Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju greeted Moon and his wife Kim Jung Sook in the lobby of Mokran House.

In his statement after signing the declaration, Kim Jong Un said that “he signed the historic declaration together with President Moon Jae In with a rich harvest in the implementation of the P’anmunjo’m declaration” and noted that the “issues of further accelerating the progress of the north-south relations so as to give steady continuity to a new era of national reconciliation and peace and prosperity were discussed in depth.”

Jong Un also said that they “discussed the practical measures to comprehensively develop the inter-Korean ties based on the principle of national independence, signed an agreement in the field of military and agreed to strive to make the Korean peninsula a peaceful land without nuclear weapons and free from nuclear threat.”  He noted that they “discussed the detailed ways for invigorating visits, contacts, multi-sided dialogue, cooperation and diverse exchanges between people of all social standings so as to make the strong trend of national reconciliation and reunification prevail in the 3 000-ri land of the north and the south of Korea” and that the Pyongyang Joint Declaration “reflects the mind of the nation full of new hope, the strong will of the fellow countrymen for reunification and the dream of all of us which will come true before long.”

Kim Jong Un said that he assured “President Moon Jae In he would visit Seoul, he expressed the will to always take the lead hand in hand in the sacred journey toward peace and prosperity.”

Moon Jae In said that “the south and the north agreed on clearing the Korean peninsula of all dangers that may lead to a war and on operating the ‘south-north joint military committee’ for the constant discussion of issues concerning the implementation of the agreed points” and noted that the “south and the north committed themselves to closely discussing and cooperating with the international community for the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

Moon said that a “huge historic change is taking place in the Korean peninsula and its vicinity after the publication of the historic Panmunjom declaration, he said, recalling that the south and the north agreed to further expand exchanges and cooperation and take practical steps for the balanced development of the nation’s economy” and noted that Kim Jong Un “gladly accepted his request for Seoul visit, he expressed the conviction that Chairman Kim Jong Un’s Seoul visit would provide an epochal turning point in the south-north relations.”

President Moon also that Jong Un “clearly indicated the way for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula today and it complied with the desire of all the fellow countrymen and the world to be free from nuclear weapons, nuclear threat and war” and emphasized that “he expresses deep respects for the Chairman’s definite decision and practice.”  He said that the “the seeds of peace and prosperity were sown on the Korean peninsula in spring last and the fruits of peace and prosperity are in bearing in Pyongyang this fall, confirming that the south-north relations will continue to make a steady progress”

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In, along with their wives and senior DPRK and ROK officials, shared two meals on Wednesday.  First they had lunch at Okryu Restaurant which “proceeded in an amicable atmosphere.”

They also had a dinner at the Pyongyang Taedong Seafood Restaurant, which was recently constructed.  That meal also took place in “an amicable atmosphere.”  During the meal, Moon Jae In met with some of the Pyongyang citizens eating at the restaurant.

During the evening of September 19 (Wednesday), Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In attended a special performance of the mass games at May Day Stadium.

Kim Jong Un, Ri Sol Ju, Moon Jae In and Kim Jung Sook went out to the platform “enthusiastically welcomed” by the audience.  DPRK schoolchildren presented them with floral bouquets.

Also, from the DPRK, on the platform were Kim Yong Nam, Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho, Gen. No Kwang Chol, Kim Nung O, Ri Son Gwon and DPRK leadership legend Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea Central Committee Presidium Member Member and Secretariat Director Pak Myong Chol (Pak Myo’ng-ch’o’l).  Also in attendance were senior officials and chief functionaries of DPRK Cabinet Ministries and Commissions, various national institutions, foreign Korean delegations visiting the DPRK, students and youth, Pyongyangites, foreign diplomats, NGO reps and defense attaches stationed in the DPRK.

The mass games performers “presented an excellent performance characterized by beautiful and graceful rhythms, dynamic gymnastics, rich national flavor, artistic skills and ever-changing scenes of the large-scale background.”  A special part of the performance was prepared to welcome President Moon.

The stadium was “overflowing with the spirit of national reconciliation and unity prevailing on the 3 000-ri land of Korea when a video showing the scenes of the significant Panmunjom summit that marked the starting line of history in which the north and the south usher in a new era of reunification by the concerted intention and efforts of the Korean nation, was displayed to help refresh the memory of the great significance of the April 27 declaration.”

After the mass games, Kim Jong Un delivered a speech in which he said that he had made “another fruition marking a fresh landmark in the development of the north-south ties with President Moon Jae In this time, expressing thanks to his tireless efforts.”

Moon Jae In spoke to the audience.  According to an unofficial translation he said:

Citizens of Pyongyang, our brethren in the North,

I am delighted to meet you all here in Pyongyang.

As President of the South, I cannot express in words how overwhelming it is to be given this opportunity by Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un to greet you. Citizens of Pyongyang, we are now forging a new era together in this way.

Chairman Kim Jong Un and I met at P’anmunjo’m on April 27 and shared a heartfelt embrace. We two leaders solemnly declared to 80 million Koreans and to the entire world that there would be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and that a new era of peace had opened.

We also confirmed the principle of autonomy for our people, whereby we ourselves determine our own fate.

By developing inter-Korean relations in an all-embracing and groundbreaking manner, we firmly pledged to reconnect Korea’s arteries and to hasten a future of common prosperity and reunification on our own terms.

Moreover, it was agreed that President Moon Jae-in would visit Pyongyang this fall as I am doing now.

Citizens of Pyongyang and fellow Koreans,

Today, Chairman Kim Jong Un and I have agreed on concrete measures to completely eliminate the fear of war and the risk of armed conflicts on the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, we affirmed our pledge to turn our beautiful territory from Paektusan Mountain to Hallasan Mountain into a land of permanent peace, free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, and to bequeath it to our future generations. And, before it is too late, we agreed to take immediate measures to fundamentally ease the suffering of separated families.

I would like to give my unreserved applause to your leader Chairman Kim Jong Un, who has determined to join me on this bold journey and is resolutely taking steps toward a new future for the Korean people.

Citizens of Pyongyang, my fellow Koreans,

During my stay in Pyongyang, I have witnessed the city’s remarkable progress. Deep in my heart, I have recognized what kind of country Chairman Kim and his compatriots in the North want to build. I have keenly realized your wholehearted longing for reconciliation and peace for all Koreans. I have seen the indomitable courage in your determination to stand on your own feet even in the face of hard times, all the while maintaining the pride of the Korean people.

Citizens of Pyongyang, fellow Koreans,

Our people are outstanding. Our people are resilient. Our people love peace. And our people must live together.

We had lived together for five thousand years but apart for just 70 years. Here, at this place today, I propose we move forward toward the big picture of peace in which the past 70-year-long hostility can be eradicated and we can become one again.

Chairman Kim Jong Un and I will firmly clasp the hands of 80 million Koreans in both the North and South and move forward to create a homeland anew.

Let us all march together on our journey into a new future.

Once again, I thank the many citizens, young people, students and children of Pyongyang for giving us such a warm welcome with the mass performances today. You were magnificent.

Thank you.

After the DPRK and ROK leader concluded their remarks “thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah!’ broke out again and fireworks were set off to beautifully decorate the nocturnal sky of September.”

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In waved to the performers and to the crowd.