After the Inter-Korean summit what to Expect from the Trump-Kim Historic Meeting?

The historic summit between the North and South Korean leaders has marked a radical political shift. After decades of a military standoff between the two sides, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in changed hostility into harmony.

It was not just reconciliation. There was no mediation but a brotherly handshake that drew the attention of the world. Observers can assume that relations between the two leaders are based on strategic alliance and not historical antagonism.

KCNA said the summit paved the way for “a new era of peace and prosperity.” North and South Korea pledged to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

The two countries agreed on the following points:

• The two sides agreed to transform the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953 to a peace treaty this year.
• They decided to end “hostile activities” between the two nations.
• Changing the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that divides the country into a “peace zone” by ceasing propaganda broadcasts.
• Arms reduction in the region pending the easing of military tension.
• To push for four-way talks involving the US and China.
• Organising a reunion of families left divided by the war.
• Connecting and modernizing railways and roads across the border.
• Further joint participation in sporting events, including this year’s Asian Games.

These historic steps are a tremendous success for the South Korean diplomacy. SK has been working for months to pave the way for peace in the Korean Peninsula. Its sincere efforts have proved that peace is possible even after 65 years of hostilities and constant tension.

The two previous meetings in 2000 and 2007 have witnessed brotherly handshake but their promises have faded away. South Korea seems keen to achieve positive results. The South Korean leader showed his desire to visit Pyong Yang next autumn. Kim did not mention the denuclearization of his country in his statements.

It is a matter of time to discover what is next. The Trump-Kim summit will be a clearer indication of Pyongyang’s intentions. The US president has clearly asked Kim to denuclearize his country and will not accept the footage as the sole result of the upcoming summit with the North Korean leader. Trump expressed his hope that a qualitative breakthrough could be achieved. In a tweet, Trump said the “KOREAN WAR TO END. The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea”

After exchanging insults and nuclear threats, Trump and Kim will sit for their historic summit. This is politics and diplomacy. Kim has become the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. The two men warmly shook hands and then stepped symbolically over the military demarcation line to the North Korean side. Kim said the two Koreas will closely co-ordinate to ensure they do not “repeat the unfortunate history in which past inter-Korea agreements…fizzled out after beginning.”

Observers believe that holding the summit and the decline of tensions remains the best option to achieve peace and stability in that hot region in the world. The failure of previous summits does not mean the absence of peaceful intentions but it was due to other crises.

Observers bet that the last summit was different. The tow leaders’ intentions were serious. They spent much time together during frank talks. In 2000, the two leaders took just 5 seconds to shake hands and 3 seconds in 2007. These are positive indicators that the peace process in the Korean Peninsula will succeed.

Will be the Trump-Kim summit the same as the inter-Korean one? Only time can tell if the potential meeting between Kim and Trump will result in good agreements or not.