[Pyeongyang Press Corps.]
(This story is based on pool reports from South Korea's joint press corps in Pyongyang)
PYONGYANG -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised South Korean President Moon Jae-in for making "tireless" efforts to bring peace to the Korean peninsula at their fresh summit in Pyongyang that followed a stalemate in denuclearization.
"There was a big achievement because of President Moon's tireless efforts," Kim said in his opening remarks at the start of a two-hour meeting in the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. He said Moon should be complimented for arranging a historic summit between North Korea and the United States in Singapore in June.
"It is not an exaggeration to say that the historic meeting between North Korea and the U.S. is the virtue of President Moon," Kim said.
For his part, Moon turned his thumb up to Kim's determination to open a new era of peace on the Korean peninsula and efforts to improve the lives of North Koreans "in difficult conditions."
"I express my gratitude to Kim for his determination to open a new era," the South Korean leader said, adding he feels "heavy responsibility" as the Pyongyang summit is closely watched by the international community.
Kim and Moon would hold a second meeting on Wednesday.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
