Cheong Wa Dae: War-ending declaration expected at Hanoi summit

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has expressed their expectations that the second round of the U.S.-North summit scheduled on Wednesday will end up with a war-ending declaration. Amid such expectations, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that he would make proactive preparations for the New Korean Peninsula System that pursues economic development and prosperity.

“We do not know which form a war-ending declaration would take but there is some possibility that Washington and Pyongyang will reach their agreement in Vietnam,” said presidential spokesman Kim Ui-gyeom in a briefing on Monday. He added to say that the end-of-war declaration is differentiated from a peace agreement and it has essential significance in it. This implies that Washington could agree on a war-ending declaration if Pyongyang takes denuclearization action of some certain level.

Asked about the ground of its prospect, Cheong Wa Dae said that it would wait and see until the negotiation unfolds. "Washington and Pyongyang are on good terms during discussion but it is too early to jump to a conclusion regarding war-ending declaration issues and other details," a South government official said.


Sang-Jun Han alwaysj@donga.com