Trilateral Summit

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in has floated the idea of a trilateral summit between the two Koreas and the U.S. following the scheduled summit talks between South and North Korea and between the US and North Korea. The presidential office will also propose high-level talks with Pyongyang to be held at the border truce village of Panmunjeom next Thursday to discuss preparations for the inter-Korean summit.

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President Moon Jae-in has mentioned for the first time the need for a three-way summit between the two Koreas and the United States after the scheduled summit talks between South and North Korea and between the US and North Korea are held in April and May. Moon says the three leaders should meet to seize momentum of the dialogue and to completely resolve issues including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "Through the scheduled meetings and future talks, we must completely resolve the nuclear and peace issue on the Korean Peninsula."

President Moon said that to establish lasting peace on the peninsula, US commitment and action are needed in addition to an inter-Korean agreement. The top office said the planned inter-Korean summit and talks between the US and North Korea are more declaratory in nature regarding the denuclearization issue. But it said a three-way summit could discuss issues of long-term economic cooperation and normalization of Washington-Pyongyang relations. President Moon also asked officials to have contents of the inter-Korean summit agreement ratified by the National Assembly so they can be institutionalized. He said this will allow the agreement to be continuously pursued even if there are changes to the political situation. The presidential office will also propose high-level talks with North Korea to be held on the North Korean side of the border truce village of Panmunjeom next Thursday March 29th to discuss preparations for the inter-Korean summit including the date and agenda.