This is What Peace Looks like:

Juniper Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:54
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Something 12 prior presidents couldn't (or wouldn't) bring about.  South Korea credits Trump for brokering this peace agreement and denuclearization.  Truly a historic day!  A North Korean President hasn't set foot in South Korea since the 1950-1953 Korean war. 

 

 

South Korea credits Trump for opening door to talks with North

By Mick Krever and Jo Shelley, CNN

Amanpour's interview with the South Korean Foreign Minister airs at 8pm CET on CNN International and 11pm ET on PBS.

(CNN)South Korea's foreign minister has said she believes President Donald Trump is largely responsible for bringing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table.

Speaking ahead of Friday's historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea, Kang Kyung-wha told CNN that the US President had played a significant role in bringing the two sides together.
"Clearly, credit goes to President Trump," Kang told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Seoul. "He's been determined to come to grips with this from day one."
Kim will become the first North Korean leader to cross the Military Demarcation Line between North and South Korea on Friday for talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. President Trump is expected to meet with Kim in May or June.
 
Kang told Amanpour that the détente was unexpected. "I think we're all surprised. Obviously pleasantly surprised. I think by all indications we are headed towards a very successful summit between my president and Chairman Kim tomorrow."
 
She said that Moon's determination also played a role in the thaw. In her analysis, the combination of tough rhetoric and economic and travel sanctions were instrumental.
President Trump's rhetoric, of course, has shifted on North Korea as a summit became a more real possibility.
In August, he threatened "fire and fury like the world has never seen." In September, he said "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission." This week, he said that Kim Jong-un had been "very open and I think very honorable."
Kang admitted Presidents Moon and Trump have at times had "different messaging," but insisted that they maintained close consultations.
"At the end, the message was North Korea will not be accepted -- never be accepted as a nuclear power."
 
When asked what would constitute success for President Moon's summit with Kim, Kang suggested a joint statement of understanding "on a broad set of issues" including denuclearization, peace, and relations between the two countries.
"If we can get -- put in writing the North Korean leader's commitment to denuclearization, that would be a very solid outcome."
She said that it would be "unrealistic" to expect sudden movement toward a formal peace treaty between the two countries. They have formally been at war since the 1950s, restrained only by an armistice agreement.
"You need to create the reality of peace by removing hostilities... And then when there is sufficient confidence on both sides, then you are ready to sign a peace treaty."
Sanctions on North Korea, she said, will not be eased until Kim takes "visible, meaningful steps" toward denuclearization.
 

 

Kim and Moon prepare to shake hands. A spokesman for Moon said Moon complimented Kim on his courage. When Moon asked Kim when it would be possible for him to visit the North, Kim said, “Maybe this is the right time for you to enter the North Korean territory.” Then Moon came over to his side of the line and they crossed together. Korea Summit Press Pool/AFP/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Kim and Moon cross the military demarcation line together. Kim is the first North Korean leader to cross the line since fighting ended in the Korean War. Moon has been a longtime advocate of peace between the Koreas. Korea Summit Press Pool/AFP/Getty Images
 
 
 

 

 

 

Kim signs a guestbook at the Peace House. Korea Summit Press Pool/AP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guestbook message signed by Kim. He wrote: “A new history begins now. The age of peace, at the starting point of history.” Then he signed his name along with the date. Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

Kim and Moon participate in a tree-planting ceremony next to the military demarcation line. The pine tree is from 1953, the year that the Korean War armistice was signed. Both leaders used soil from their countries. A stone commemorating the occasion read “peace and prosperity planted,” and it included the two leaders’ names and the date of the summit. Korea Summit Press Pool/AFP/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

Kim and Moon raise their hands after signing a joint statement at the end of the day. “The two leaders solemnly declare … that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and a new era of peace has begun,” the declaration said. Korea Summit Press Pool/AFP/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

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