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Thursday, April 19, 2018, 23:02
ROK leader says DPRK seeking 'complete denuclearization'
By Agencies
Thursday, April 19, 2018, 23:02 By Agencies

This combo of file photos shows a picture taken on May 10, 2016 of DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, left, on the balcony of the Grand People's Study House following a mass parade in Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang; and a picture taken on Aug 17, 2017 of ROK's President Moon Jae-In speaking during a press conference marking his first 100 days in office in Seoul. (PHOTO / AFP)

SEOUL – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has expressed its desire for "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Thursday. 

The ROK leader said a dramatic change is going on in the Korean Peninsula, referring to successive summits between the two Koreas and between the United States and the DPRK.

All they (the DPRK) are expressing is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security.  

Moon Jae-in, President, the Republic of Korea

Moon made the remarks during a meeting with heads of 47 local media outlets. He said the summits would bring dramatic change that nobody has ever expected, according to the presidential Blue House. 

Moon said big-picture agreements about normalization of relations between the two Koreas and the US should not be difficult to reach through planned summits between the DPRK and the ROK, and between the DPRK and the US, in a bid to rein in Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

READ MORE: ROK, DPRK agree to broadcast live inter-Korean summit

Through the upcoming inter-Korean summit, Moon said, the ROK should establish a firm milestone to open the road to the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization, the establishment of a permanent peace regime and the sustainable development of inter-Korean relations. 

"North Korea is expressing a will for a complete denuclearization," Moon told reporters, adding that Pyongyang has shown its active will to engage in a dialogue while actively preparing for the summit with the US. 

The DPRK is also referred to as North Korea while the ROK as South Korea.

"They have not attached any conditions that the US cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. All they are expressing is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security." 

ALSO READ: Wang Yi backs DPRK's summit talks

He said the ROK should end the armistice system, which has lasted for the past 65 years, to sign peace treaty after declaring an end to the war. 

The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, not peace treaty. 

The Blue House said earlier this week that it was reviewing ways to turn the current armistice into a peace regime during the summit between President Moon and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un scheduled for April 27 at the truce village of Panmunjom. 

Moon also said he saw the possibility of a peace agreement, or even international aid for DPRK economy, if it denuclearizes. 

But he also said the summit had "a lot of constraints", in that the two Koreas could not make progress separate from the DPRK-US summit, and could not reach an agreement that transcends international sanctions. 

"So first, the South-North Korean summit must make a good beginning, and the dialogue between the two Koreas likely must continue after we see the results of the North Korea-United States summit," Moon said. 

HOTLINE TO BE CONNECTED APRIL 20

A hotline of direct dialogue between leaders of the two Koreas will be connected from Friday, the Blue House of South Korea said.

The test call between working-level officials of the two Koreas will be made via the connected hotline Friday, but it had yet to be decided when Moon and Kim have their first conversation through the telephone line, Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for Moon said.

The phone line will directly link the Blue House to the State Affairs Commission, the office of the DPRK leader.

Moon and Kim agreed to have their first phone talks via the hotline, before holding their first summit on April 27 at Peace House.

The Peace House is being under renovation, which started from April 6. The construction will end Friday, according to the spokesman.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo visited the DPRK last week and met DPRK leader Kim with whom he formed a "good relationship", US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ahead of a summit planned for May or June.

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