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North Korea agrees to shut down missile site, says Moon North Korea agrees to shut down missile site, says Moon
(about 1 hour later)
Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut down one of North Korea's main missile testing and launching sites, says South Korea's President Moon Jae-in. Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut down one of North Korea's main missile testing and launch sites, says South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.
After meeting in Pyongyang, the two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation," said Mr Moon.After meeting in Pyongyang, the two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation," said Mr Moon.
The agreement was described by Mr Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the peninsula.The agreement was described by Mr Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the peninsula.
Mr Kim also said he hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future" - he would be the first North Korean leader to do so.Mr Kim also said he hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future" - he would be the first North Korean leader to do so.
The Koreas also plan to link up their railways, allow reunions for families separated by the Korean War and co-operate on health care. Summit results: Denuclearisation
'Kim to visit Seoul' The main focus of the summit was the issue of denuclearisation. While the US and North Korea have in broad terms agreed to work towards that goal, negotiations have stalled.
Speaking after the signing in Pyongyang, Mr Moon said Mr Kim had "agreed to permanently close the Tongchang-ri missile engine test site and missile launch facility in the presence of experts from relevant nations". Pyongyang has now sought to reconfirm its commitment.
He said Mr Kim had also agreed to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility, but only if the US took some reciprocal action. Mr Moon said Mr Kim had "agreed to permanently close the Tongchang-ri missile engine test site and missile launch facility" and, crucially, that this would be done "in the presence of experts from relevant nations" who could verify it was no longer operational.
The two countries will also seek to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics. He said Mr Kim had also agreed to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility - where North Korea is believed to have produced the material used in its nuclear tests - but only if the US took some reciprocal action. The details of that were not specified.
The South's defence minister and the head of the North Korean army also signed an agreement to further reduce military tensions. North Korea blew up its main nuclear testing site at Punggye-ri shortly before Mr Kim's meeting with US President Donald Trump in June.
The latest signing comes during a three day visit to Pyongyang by Mr Moon. "The outcome is a big win for Moon Jae-in, who has managed to extract a series of positive headlines from Kim Jong-un related to denuclearisation," Ankit Panda, editor of The Diplomat, told the BBC.
"None of the concessions are truly costly to Kim and won't help move North Korea toward short-term disarmament, but provide a further basis for confidence building on which US-North Korea talks can move forward."
Summit results: North and South relations
The two countries also made advances on inter-Korean ties, announcing plans to link up their railways, allow more reunions for families separated by war and co-operate on health care.
Mr Moon invited the North Korean leader to Seoul, suggesting the visit should take place before the end of this year.
They will also seek to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
The South's defence minister and the head of the North Korean army also signed an agreement to reduce military tensions, establishing a buffer zone along the border to prevent accidental clashes.
The signing came mid-way through a three-day visit to Pyongyang by Mr Moon.
While it is the first trip to the North Korean capital in a decade by a leader from the South, it is Mr Moon's third meeting with Kim Jong-un since their historic summit in April.While it is the first trip to the North Korean capital in a decade by a leader from the South, it is Mr Moon's third meeting with Kim Jong-un since their historic summit in April.
Breaking the deadlock What does this mean for the US?
North Korea has embarked on an unprecedented series of meetings this year with both the South and the US. Efforts towards denuclearisation between the North and the US had recently hit a deadlock and this week's Pyongyang summit will bolster the South's role as a mediator.
But efforts towards denuclearisation between the North and the US had recently hit a deadlock and there's hope the South will continue to act as a mediator. Mr Trump was quick to tweet his applause for the Moon-Kim summit.
The US and North Korea held their own historic meeting in June when US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un agreed in broad terms to work towards denuclearisation. The US and North Korea held their own historic meeting in June when Mr Trump and Mr Kim agreed in broad terms to work towards denuclearisation.
Since then though, there's been little progress with no clear process nor timeline laid out. Most observers warn that so far the North has taken no meaningful steps to ending its controversial nuclear weapons programme. Since then though, there's been little progress with no clear process nor timeline laid out.
While the US wants denuclearisation first and an easing of sanctions second, North Korea hopes for a step-by-step process where each concession by Pyongyang will lead to a gradual easing of the sanctions regime. Most observers warn that so far the North has taken no meaningful steps to end its controversial nuclear weapons programme and this week's summit might not be enough to convince them otherwise.
Given that deadlock, the US last month called off a trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to North Korea, citing a lack of progress. "For instance, the commitment to shutting down the Yongbyon complex is premised on reciprocal US measures, which raises difficulties," warns Mr Panda. "Washington will have to help move the needle here and it's unclear if the Trump administration can do that."
However, Mr Trump recently said that he and Mr Kim would "prove everyone wrong" after he received an invitation from the North Korean leader for a second summit. Both sides say they are working on making that meeting happen. Mr Trump recently said that he and Mr Kim would "prove everyone wrong", after he received an invitation from the North Korean leader for a second summit. Both sides say they are working on making that meeting happen.