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The leaders of North and South Korea have agreed to push for a full peace deal formally ending the Korean War, and introduce regular cross-border freight train services to boost economic cooperation.The moves come as part of a wide-ranging reconciliation pact agreed on the final day of a landmark summit in Pyongang.The declaration was signed on Thursday by Roh Moo-hyun, the South Korean president, and Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader.The talks between the two marked only the second ever meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea in more than half a century.Under the declaration, the two leaders also pledged to create a joint fishing zone along their disputed sea border – a frequent source of tensions between the North and South.North Korea has never recognised the sea border, which was drawn unilaterally by United Nations forces after the Korean War.Just hours before the declaration was signed, news came from Beijing that North Korea had agreed to a six-nation plan to dismantle all its nuclear facilities by the end of this year.In a nod to the nuclear deal, the two leaders agreed to make joint efforts to ensure the plan is implemented smoothly – the first time Kim has personally put his name to denuclearisation efforts.In other points, the two leaders also agreed they would hold "frequent" future summits - although no timing for any such encounters was given - and they agreed to increase cross-border family reunions, saying they would hold such meetings "constantly".The issue of divided families is a deeply emotional one in both countries.Kim, in his usual khaki jumpsuit, and Roh shook hands, smiled and clinked glasses of champagne after signing the agreement.
Brink of war
North and South Korea have stood on the brink of a return to war for more than five decades, ever since the Korean War was brought to a halt with a ceasefire in 1953.In the declaration signed in Pyongyang, Roh and Kim agreed that a more formal end to hostilities must be put in place."North and South Korea shared the view they must end the current armistice and build a permanent peace regime," they said.The two leaders also said that both sides had "agreed to closely co-operate to end military hostility and ensure peace and easing of tension on the Korean peninsula".However, while an agreement to push for a formal end to the war is a significant step forward, any actual treaty will also have to include China and the US, both of which fought in the Korean War.The US still has some 50,000 troops based in South Korea.As for South Korea itself, it was never a signatory to the original armistice.
Question of trust
Interviewed by Al Jazeera, Brian Bridges, a professor of political science at Lingnan University, Hong Kong, said: "North Korea is in a difficult economic situation ... and Kim Jong-il has to face the reality of how to get aid, how to get foreign investment into his country to raise the living standards of his people."To do that it requires dialogue and engagement and giving up some of the nuclear weapons or nuclear processes that he has been involved so far."He has become slightly more realistic about what can be achieved. ... He is becoming much more attuned to international opinion and maybe he is coming out of his shell and becoming much more engaged."
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