North And South Korea Announce End Of Korean War

Leaders of North and South Korea on Friday signed a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War later this year, 65 years after hostilities ceased.

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un early Friday, met with his South Korean counterpart face to face for the first time for the beginning of a historic summit.

Kim became the first leader from the North to cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) into South Korean territory since fighting ended in the Korean War. He shook Moon’s hand on both sides of the demarcation line.

The peace treaty, formally called the “Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula,” was revealed after a full day of meetings and a 30-minute private conversation in the past hour between Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in, according to CNN.

Addressing the international media at the foot of the Peace House, where the talks are taking place, Kim said “a new history begins now”, declaring that the two Koreas are one united people who should work together toward reunification.

“We are not a people that should be confronting each other … we should be living in unity,” Kim said.

“We have long waited for this moment to happen. All of us.

“The road I have used today, I sincerely hope every South and North Korean citizen can use this road.

“We will be able to enjoy peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula without having to fear the war.”

Though Kim did not mention denuclearization in his speech, Moon said both sides agreed to the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula.

“There will not be any more war on the Korean Peninsula, a new era of peace has begun,” Moon said after signing the declaration.

“Chairman Kim Jong Un and I have agreed that complete denuclearization will be achieved, and that is our common goal.”

The Korean War ended in 1953 in stalemate, after which an armistice agreement was signed. But a peace treaty never followed, and both sides have been technically at war.