Set date for inter-Korean summit

Security adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Photo: AP

Speaking after concluding a one-day visit to Pyongyang, Chung Eui-yong said: "First, the two Koreas agreed to hold an inter-Korean summit between September 18 and 20, and hold high-level talks early next week to prepare for the summit."

This will be the third inter-Korean summit. They first met at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27, then again on May 26.

Mr. Chung Eui-yong, Director of the National Security Office of South Korea, led a five-person delegation to Pyongyang for a single day on September 5.

Also on September 6, South Korean President Moon Jae-in's security adviser, Moon Chung-in, affirmed that North Korea's denuclearization is difficult but possible as long as Pyongyang and Washington maintain dialogue and build mutual trust.

The two Koreas and the US need to hold a three-way summit to declare an end to the Korean War. Photo: Getty

Moon Chung-in, special presidential adviser for reunification, diplomacy and national security, added that the United States needs to trust the authenticity of Pyongyang's efforts to abandon its nuclear weapons in order to promote bilateral dialogue.

Speaking at a breakfast hosted by the Incheon Business Forum in Incheon city, west of Seoul, Moon Chung-in said: "Denuclearization is possible and negotiations need to move forward towards complete and verifiable denuclearization."

The official affirmed that the important thing now is to maintain dialogue between the US and North Korea as well as between the two Koreas. Mr. Moon Chung-in shared his opinion: "Now the momentum for dialogue is very strong.

President Moon Jae-in will visit North Korea from September 18-20 to hold a summit with Mr. Kim Jong-un. Photo: AP

The countries involved need to talk in a more concrete way amid the current good atmosphere, because any delay will be unpopular at home and limit the prospects. The US may be skeptical that North Korea, like in the past, will not take any action after receiving the reward. Authenticity and trust go hand in hand."

Citing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's statement at a summit with President Moon Jae-in last April, Moon Chung-un said that Kim Jong-un was very serious about his commitment to denuclearization.

At the meeting in April, the North Korean leader said there would be no more pain caused by nuclear weapons as long as US-North Korea dialogue took place more frequently and the two countries built trust.

The South Korean presidential adviser also suggested that Kim Jong-un visit the United Nations in the future to hold a second summit with US President Donald Trump.

After that, the two Koreas and the US need to hold a three-way summit to declare an end to the Korean War and come up with a specific agreement on denuclearization./.