[SUMMIT] Kim wants quick conclusion of nuclear talks to focus on economy: Moon

[Yonhap News Photo]

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wanted a quick second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing his will to focus on economic development through an early conclusion of denuclearization talks, the South's president said Thursday.

Kim revealed his hope "to finish denuclearization as soon as possible and focus on economic development," President Moon Jae-in told reporters in Seoul after a three-day visit to North Korea that produced a new agreement on denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula.

"I believe that the conditions for resuming dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. were created through inter-Korean talks this time," Moon said.

Kim is willing to take additional measures such as the permanent shutdown of nuclear facilities at the North's Yongbyon complex if Washington takes "corresponding" steps as agreed in his June summit with Trump, the South Korean leader said.

South Korea aims to realize a declaration on ending the status of war on the Korean peninsula by the end of this year, Moon said, suggesting that when complete denuclearization is achieved, a truce peace regime can be written to replace the 1953 armistice agreement that left the Korean peninsula technically at war.

"Through my visit to North Korea, Kim confirmed that he was thinking about the declaration with the same concept as I said," Moon said. "The peace agreement will be made at the final stage of complete denuclearization."

The president said Kim agreed that the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea depends entirely on the will of Seoul and Washington.

Lim Chang-won cwlim34@ajunews.com

[SUMMIT] Kim wants quick conclusion of nuclear talks to focus on economy: Moon

Related