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Korean summit brings tears of joy

  • Pat Cunningham SSC

Fr Cunningham SSC

Fr Cunningham SSC

Columban priest Fr Pat Cunningham, who is based in South Korea, shares this reflection on the occasion of the historic South-North Korea meeting on 27 April 2018:

Greetings on a very historic day when peace on the Korean peninsula appears to have taken a giant step closer after the first meeting between Korean leaders in 11 years took place in Panmunjeom. A joint statement said that 'there will be no more war on the Korean peninsula and thus a new era of peace has begun' which is incredibly positive news. The declaration also stated that both sides would work toward the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula' and would resume reunion gatherings of separated family members in the Autumn.

The summit was meticulously choreographed and full of symbolism which resulted in tears of joy among the majority of people who have waited a long time for this day. I guess the reason behind the rich symbolism was perhaps because substantive outcomes were limited so far in terms of the meaning of 'complete denuclearisation' as this will be fleshed out in subsequent military talks beginning next month and particularly during the upcoming Trump-Kim summit as it remains a bigger issue for the US.

I guess even a formal end to the Korean War, which both announced today rings hollow unless the US, a signatory of the armistice, agrees to a formal end to the Korean War and agrees to work towards a Peace Treaty.

Incidentally the two leaders agreed to work towards signing a peace treaty this year on the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice on 27 July, which of course was originally signed between North Korea, China and the US.

On the issue of denuclearisation, Kim joked with Moon that he 'would not interrupt your early morning sleep anymore,' referring to his daybreak missile tests conducted over the past year. Kim's announcement of the dismantlement of his nuclear program appears also to be tempered by reports from China that the testing site appears to have collapsed anyway. I believe however that Trump needs to acknowledge that North Korea already has a nuclear capability and that it would be difficult for the US side to keep insisting on a full and immediate nuclear denuclearisation especially given the US military threat from the south and its massive nuclear arsenal.

Let's hope that the Trump-Kim summit will build fruitfully on what was achieved today after much diplomacy in recent months, and that we can look forward to the signing of a Peace Treaty on 27 July which would provide a new dawn for peace in Korea and the entire region.


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