Asia

Japan’s Abe hails Korea summit, seeks ‘concrete action’

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed a historic summit between the two Koreas on Friday, urging Pyongyang to take “concrete action” on the peninsula’s denuclearisation and other issues. “Today President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong Un held earnest discussions about North Korea’s denuclearization. I want to welcome that as a positive move toward comprehensive resolution of various issues concerning North Korea,” Abe told reporters in Tokyo. “We strongly hope that […]

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Just in: Kremlin praises Korea summit as ‘very positive news’

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Friday praised a landmark summit between the leaders of the two Koreas as “very positive news”, saying direct dialogue on the divided peninsula was promising. “This is very positive news,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Today we see that this direct dialogue has taken place (and) it has certain prospects,” he said.

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Kremlin praises Korea summit as ‘very positive news’

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Friday praised a landmark summit between the leaders of the two Koreas as “very positive news”, saying direct dialogue on the divided peninsula was promising. “This is very positive news,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman told reporters after the leaders of North and South Korea held a historic meeting at the border separating the two countries. “Today we see that this direct dialogue has taken place (and) it has certain prospects,” […]

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N. Korea vows to ensure implementation of peace deal, as Kim and Moon agree to denuclearize

  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to ensure that the agreement reached with the South’s Moon Jae-in at a summit Friday would be implemented, unlike previous pledges. The two Koreas will closely co-ordinate to ensure they did not “repeat the unfortunate history in which past inter-Korea agreements…fizzled out after beginning,” Kim said after a summit with the South’s President Moon Jae-in. “There may be backlash, hardship and frustration on our way,” he added, […]

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N. Korea’s Kim promises not to repeat ‘unfortunate history’

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to ensure that the agreement reached with the South’s Moon Jae-in at a summit Friday would be implemented, unlike previous pledges. The two Koreas will closely co-ordinate to ensure they do not “repeat the unfortunate history in which past inter-Korea agreements…fizzled out after beginning,” Kim said after a summit with the South’s President Moon Jae-in. “There may be backlash, hardship, and frustration on […]

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N. and S. Korea to hold reunion of divided families: statement

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North and South Korea will hold a reunion in August of families left divided when the Korean War ended 65 years ago, they said Friday after a summit. Around 57,000 families in the South still have members in the North, one of the most emotive issues remaining from the conflict. “South and North Korea agreed to proceed with reunion programs for the separated families on the occasion of the National […]

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China hails ‘courage’ of North, South Korean leaders

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Friday heaped praise on the leaders of the two Koreas for holding a landmark summit, calling their handshake over the Military Demarcation Line that divides the peninsula a “historic moment”. “We applaud the Korean leaders’ historic step and appreciate their political decisions and courage,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing. “We hope and look forward to them taking this opportunity to further open a new […]

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Armenia’s acting PM rejects talks with opposition leader

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia’s acting head of government Karen Karapetyan on Friday rebuffed talks proposed by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan who says he is the only possible candidate for prime minister. Karapetyan’s refusal to negotiate came after he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone Thursday. The Moscow-allied ex-Soviet country has been in the grips of a political crisis over the past weeks, with veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian quitting after a decade in […]

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China, India leaders to hold summit after border row

by Laurent Thomet Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to repair strained ties at a summit on Friday after an intense border dispute last year marred relations. Xi will host Modi for what has been described as an “informal summit” in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Friday and Saturday. While last year’s high-altitude standoff in the Himalayas has been resolved, […]

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Kim and Moon discussed denuclearization and permanent peace on peninsula: Seoul

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South’s President Moon Jae-in discussed denuclearization and a permanent peace on the Korean peninsula at their summit Friday, Moon’s spokesman said. “The two leaders had a sincere and frank dialogue over the denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace of the Korean peninsula and development of inter-Korea ties,” said Yoon Young-chan. © Agence France-Presse

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Kim offers to visit Seoul ‘any time if you invite me’: South Korea

SEOUL, United States (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the South’s President Moon Jae-in on Friday he was willing to visit him in Seoul “any time if you invite me,” Moon’s spokesman said. Kim made the remarks as the pair chatted ahead of their summit in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Koreas, the official said. According to the official, Moon told the visitor he could “show you scenes far better than […]

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Kim’s security: ‘not even an ant can pass through’

by Park Chan-kyong Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — When Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong Un came down the steps towards the inter-Korean border Friday he was escorted by a phalanx of bodyguards carefully chosen for their fitness, marksmanship, martial arts skills and even looks. Men in sharp suits and matching blue and white striped ties fanned out ahead of and around Kim as he approached the Military Demarcation Line for a historic handshake […]

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