There were verbal offerings on 27th April at the historic Panmunjeom North Korea-South Korea summit, both on denuclearization and changes in time zone by North Korean President Kim Jong Un. The offerings were welcomed by Moon Jae-in (President of ROK)and both leaders agreed to set dates as soon as they were ready.
Nuclear test site in Punggye-ri to be closed in May
“Chairman of the State Affairs Committee Kim Jong Un agreed during the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit to close the North’s nuclear test site next month. To make the dismantling process transparent, he agreed to invite experts and journalists from Korea and the U.S. to the North,” Presidential Senior Secretary for Public Relations Yoon Young-chan announced today During Cheong Wa Dae press briefing held on April 29.
According with the information published on the official site of the Government of the Republic of South Korea, quoting Yoon words at the press conference offered today, North Korean leader said, “The U.S. is constitutionally averse to North Korea, but through dialogue, it will become apparent that we have no intention to target South Korea, the Pacific Ocean or the U.S. with nuclear weapons. If we are able to build trust with the U.S. through frequent meetings, and promises to end war, and practice a policy of non-aggression, there’s no reason for us to live a hard life with nuclear weapons.”
“We will not repeat the painful history that is the Korean War, and I assure you that military force will not be used under any circumstance,” Kim added.
The close of the nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, Gilju-gun County, Hamgyeongbuk-do Province would be publicly verifiable.
Matching time zones
According to the information on Yoon’s report published on the official site of the Government of ROK, Chairman Kim suggested during the summit talks that the North and South should first align their time zone. “The two different clocks for Seoul and Pyeongyang hanging in the Peace House broke his heart.” He said,and Kim continued “Since it was us that switched from the standard time, we will reset our clocks. You may announce this to the public.”
North Korea’s time is currently 30 minutes behind of that at South Korea.
Image over the headline.- President Moon Jae-in (right) and North Korea’s Chairman of the State Affairs Committee Kim Jong Un shake hands after announcing the Panmunjeom Declaration, at the Peace House on April 27th. (2018 Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps)
