Seoul and Pyongyang prepare summit between Moon and Kim Jong-un

North and South officials will meet to determine the agenda for the April 27 meeting. Denuclearization and peace at the top of the list. Activation of a direct red line between the two leaders probable. Pyongyang celebrates the 106th birthday of the founder. No military parade.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Officials of the two Koreas will meet this week to determine the key points of the inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled for 27 April.

Topping the agendas of points to be discussed will probably be the denuclearization of North Korea, and with it the development of a lasting peace on the Korean peninsula and the improvement of relations between the two countries.

The two leaders will meet in the village of Panmunjom, in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), a fortified strip that goes from coast to coast, four kilometres wide, and divides the peninsula into two parts. This is the third time that leaders of the North and South meet. The precedents occurred in 2000 and 2007.

"Peace, a new beginning" is the slogan chosen yesterday by the Blue House in Seoul to define the meeting. On April 14, officials from both countries discussed the possibility of activating a direct telephone line between the two leaders: Kim and Moon could have a telephone conversation before the meeting next week.

Yesterday, North Korea celebrated the 106th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il-sung, taking the opportunity to give further proof of its diplomatic orientation: there was no shadow or hint of arms or missile programs, nor to other provocations, unlike previous years, and in particular last year, when a massive military parade was held in Pyongyang for the occasion.

• korea
• north korea
• south korea
• inter-Korean dialogue
• peace
• intercorean summit
• moon jae-in
• kim jong-un
• korean peninsula
• nuclear
• missiles