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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Samuel Osborne, Jon Sharman

Korea summit - live updates: North and South leaders agree to denuclearisation of peninsula in historic joint statement

North and South Korea will begin talks aimed at signing a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War 65 years after hostilities ceased, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in have announced.

Mr Moon and Mr Kim said they would hold three- or four-way discussions with the US and possibly China on bringing a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict, with a view to signing the treaty later this year.

The two Koreas have also agreed to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons during a historic summit between their leaders at the border truce village of Panmunjom. 

The leaders of North and South Korea signed a joint declaration on Friday agreeing to work for the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

At their first summit in more than a decade, the two sides announced they would seek an agreement to establish "permanent" and "solid" peace on the peninsula.

The declaration included promises to pursue military arms reduction, cease "hostile acts", turn their fortified border into a "peace zone", and seek multilateral talks with other countries, such as the US.

Earlier, Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in poured a mixture of soil and water from both countries onto a pine tree they planted at a truce village as a symbol of peace before resuming their highly anticipated summit. 

Mr Kim and Mr Moon also unveiled a stone plaque placed next to the tree that was engraved with a message saying "Peace and Prosperity Are Planted." 

The pine tree dates to 1953, the year the Korean War ended in an armistice. The soil and water were brought from the Koreas' mountains and rivers. 

The leaders then talked while walking unaccompanied on a nearby bridge before they are expected to resume the afternoon session of their summit at Panmunjom. 

Mr Kim at one point was seen waving away photographers as he and Mr Moon continued their talks sitting on chairs placed at the bridge. 

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