Korean War Ends

Harshika Sethi, Staff Writer

Image result for kim jong un and moon jae in handshake

Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, the Leaders of South and North Korea, have planned to initiate a formal end to the Korean War and have downright denuclearized the peninsula on Friday April 27th, 2018, after 65 years of conflict.

   In part of the day- long summit, the two leaders met in on the border of the two countries, for the first time in ten years, to historically shake hands to symbolize the unification of the Korean peninsula.

    Later that day, Moon Jae- in and Kim Jong Un signed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification on the Korean Peninsula.

   Moon Jae-in, the leader of South Korea said, “There will not be any more war on the Korean peninsula.”

   “The Koreas will be reunited as one,” declared Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea.

   To symbolize the peace treaty, the two leaders came together to replant a tree from 1953, the year direct war between North and South Korea “ended”. Moon used soil from Mount Paektu, a mountain in North Korea, as Kim joined him by placing soil from Jeju, an island located in South Korea.

   However, The Panmunjom Declaration did not include specifics regarding Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, and it did not set out what North Korea would expect to get in exchange for denuclearization agreement.

   Josh Kim (‘20) said, “I’m excited for the new changes that will happen for these two countries.But I’m also feel cautious of Kim Jong Un because until he denuclearized all of his weapons, we cannot be completely sure we’re safe.”

   Anything between the two Koreas must also involve China and the US, both of whom fought in the original conflict that began in 1950. Even though a ceasefire was signed in 1953, there was no peace treaty that officially concluded the war in the peninsula.

   When Donald Trump came aware of the news regarding the Koreas, he expressed his approval.   

   Donald Trump tweeted, “After a furious year of missile launches and nuclear testing, a historic meeting between North and South Korea,” he said. “Good things are happening, but only time will tell!”

   “Korean war to end! The United States. And all of its great people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!” read another tweet from Trump.

   People are now expressing their opinion on what Donald Trump’s position in this controversy is.

   Lindsey Graham, a United States senator states, “Donald Trump convinced North Korea and China he was serious about bringing about change. We’re not there yet, but if this happens, President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.”

   “I am determined not to repeat the painful history of the Korean War. As the same nation living on the same land, we should never shed blood again,” said Kim Jong Un to Moon Jae-in.