The Korean War is Over!!

Commuters stopped in their tracks, teachers paused classes and all eyes were tuned into the live broadcast across the country. For the first time in over 65 years the leaders of North and South Korea met, embraced and exchanged pleasantries on South Korean soil.

What might have been thought of as impossible only a few months prior, Kim Jong-un crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) which separates the two nations early Friday morning and shook hands with President Moon Jae-in. After a short discussion Jong-un invited the South Korean president to step onto North Korean soil, which Moon happily obliged. This was a historic event for both the Peninsular region and the World.

North Korea has been an isolated, rogue nation for the past several decades, working on it's nuclear program and constantly engaging in war rhetoric with America. Never in my wildest dreams would I have predicted that in 2018 the leaders of of these two nations would shake hands and have a full day of discussions about peace and de-nuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

In an article written last week I discussed how North Korea had announced that it will cease it further nuclear tests and after the meeting of the two Korean leaders, plans have been made for outside inspectors to validate that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site has indeed been shut down.

The two leaders met for several hours and then reconvened after a lunch break. They participated in a traditional marching guard and planted a tree with a mixture of North and South Korean soil, symbolizing a new era of peace on the peninsula.

After a successful day of talks which saw smiles from both parties, the two leaders announced that they would work to officially announce the end of the Korean war later this year. The Korean war has never officially ended, with an armistice being signed in 1953.

This is a huge step for peace on the Peninsula.

There are many analysts and critics who are skeptical of Friday's summit, pointing to meetings in the past that quickly deteriorated after what seemed to be progressive talks. However, we are now in unprecedented territory as this is the first time a North Korean leader has stepped foot on South Korean soil. One can't help but be optimistic that perhaps this will lead to more amicable talks.

As the calendar flips to May, another important summit lies just a few weeks away as the leaders of North Korea and America will meet to discuss denuclearization, withdrawing American troops and a number of other talking points. There have also been hints that Japanese Prime minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae In will take part.

One can only hope that Friday's meeting between the two Korean Heads of State will lead to cooler heads prevailing and lay the foundation for sustained peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

There are still so many things that must go right and still a number of questions to be answered as to why the sudden change of heart by the notoriously short tempered Kim Jong-un. Some critics think that the nuclear site has become unstable and perhaps even collapsed, causing Kim to reach out and try and make a deal before it is discovered that his potential nuclear arsenal is not a threat. Perhaps there has been mounting pressure from high ranking military aids due to the increased sanctions that have been placed on the hermit nation. Right now we just have to be hopeful that a new chapter is being unveiled and that the two Korea's can build a strong relationship, bringing peace and happiness to the peninsula.

Images from here and here