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World Witnesses History Unfold On Korean Peninsula; Korean Leaders Wrap Up Summit In DMZ. Aired at 8-9a ET
Aired April 27, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: A hardy handshake for a historic moment. The North and South Korean leaders meet at the demilitarized zone.
KIM JONG-UN, NORTH KOREAN LEADER (through a translator): As I walked over here, I thought, why did it took so long? Why was it so difficult to get
here?
LU STOUT: Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in making a stunning announcement about the future of the Korean Peninsula.
MOON JAE-IN, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through a translator): There will not be anymore war at the Korean Peninsula. The new era of peace has
officially opened.
LU STOUT: But questions remain as an expected meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump looms ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. Our breaking news this hour, we begin with that extraordinary political theater just wrapping up on the
Korean Peninsula. It started with a smile and a handshake between leaders of two nations still technically at war after more than six decades.
But after getting down to business, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un promised to officially end that war, and
work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Now, the two men walked side-by-side inside the DMZ, on the border that has
divided their countries since 1953.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: The military demarcation line, he became the first North Korean Leader to cross to the south, and then, in a surprise move, Kim Jong-un
ushering President Moon over the line to the North.
Now, the two performed several ceremonies, including a tree planting, and with no microphones, and cameras only allowed to film from a distance, they
sat down, and they talked. U.S. President Donald Trump, who South Korea said should be credited with bringing both sides to the table, tweeted
this.
Korean War to end, the United States, and all of its great people should very proud of what is now taking place in Korea. Now, it is a scene we
would not have predicted a year ago.
But on the 65th year since the armistice agreement, North and South Korea signed what they're calling the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace,
Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula. The agreement includes working toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula.
It also included that quadrilateral meetings to be held between Koreas, the U.S., and China, with a view to declaring an end to the war. They say all
hostile acts will be ceased, and there's a commitment to reunite the families separate by the war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now, CNN is bringing you reaction, context, all you need to know right here on News Stream. Our correspondents and analysts are standing by
to unpack it all. Let's start with Paula Hancocks near the DMZ.
And, Paula, that declaration of peace and prosperity, at the end of this inter-Korean talks, what does it really mean for the future of the Koreas?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this declaration in itself is significant because both parties signed it, both leaders signed it. They
stood next to each other, and gave a press conference. It's not something you often see from Kim Jong-un. Verifying what they had just signed, which
is effectively that they are going to work towards the end of the Korean War, including the United States and China, those signatories to the
armistice.
And also saying that they have agreed that they will work towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, also saying they're
going to make sure there are no hostilities between North and South Korea, to make sure no war can break out.
They will work towards Korean family reunions, and make sure that that is going to be something that they go with forward -- going forward because
obviously, that's something that is very close to President Moon's heart, himself as well, he was part of those family reunions as his mother went to
a family reunion and met his sister there.
He met his aunt for the very first time. But we didn't have, Kristie, was exact details of what this denuclearization might look like, or even a
vague idea of what details we would see going forward.
It's quite a sweeping phrase, saying that they've agreed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It's a cliche. But the devil is
always in the detail. But what we did see today, which is very interesting, is the fact that the two had actually started off a
relationship.
They had started building trust. It's something that Kim Jong-un himself was also talking about, at that toast just that we heard shortly at the end
of that banquet, the fact that there was no relationship between these two men.
[08:05:05] There was very little relationship between the two Korea, and they are building that up. Kim Jong-un is also saying that they have a
hotline, so they can phone each other if need be. I mean, that is unprecedented, there's never been a hotline between the North and South
Korean leaders.
So the optics were important throughout today. And also the fact that these two men are starting to build a relationship is important, because
going forward, there are a tremendous amount of details, and hurdles to clear.
This is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination, even if -- and I say even if both sides are totally committed to complete
denuclearization. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Today was such a historic day for North and South Korea, for Kim Jong-un, and also for Moon Jae-in, a leader who you have interviewed, and
covered in depth. Do you think what happened today will help seal the kind of political legacy he wants to be remember for in South Korea?
HANCOCKS: Moon Jae-in had a lot riding on today. He had a tremendous amount riding on it. I spoke to a close ally of his just a couple of days
ago, and he said that Moon felt like he had the world's pressure on his shoulders.
He was well aware of how important it was that this went well, which is clearly why they had so many rehearsals to make sure the optics were
prefect, that even the angles, the lighting, that nothing went wrong, because it was an important message to be sending to the rest of the world.
That it's could be potentially be a turning point for North and South Korea, and also knowing full well that there will be a tremendous amount of
skepticism out there.
This isn't the first time that North and South Korea have had the leaders embracing, and shaking hands, and smiling, and signing a declaration. This
is not the first time.
But for Moon Jae-in's point of view, the Blue House says that his key effort is to make sure that Washington was brought along this time as well,
believing the before this declarations and agreements didn't hold, and they couldn't carry out all the pledges because the U.S. did not fully support
them.
Worth pointing out that these pledges in the past were not always just broken by North Korea, but the United States didn't always follow through
as well. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Paula Hancocks live from near the DMZ. We thank you for your reporting this day, and take care. Our Chief International Correspondent
Christiane Amanpour is in Seoul. She joins me now live.
And, Christiane, a year ago, today's meeting would be considered just fiction, inconceivable, so how important was this day for the future of
peace on the Peninsula?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're absolutely right. And of course, it was the New Year's declaration. This
sort of started this are on the way and then President Moon had used the Olympics to really sort of do what he called Peace Olympics, and to try to
break the ice, which he did, and both sides did.
And this has led to this day with a lot of behind-the-scenes talk as well. I think that it's really interesting to just -- to have just sort of
internalize right now is that, if he launches focus a whole focus, and whole shift of conversation and emphasis has been dictated by what the
leaders have said.
And that is, they have really put a huge amount of stock today on bettering their relations. Both presidents have talked extensively about bettering
relations between the two Koreas, of hopefully trying to sign a peace treaty, they didn't put a full date on it, but they implied it could happen
by the end of this year.
And as you heard President Moon say, there will never again be war on the Korean Peninsula. And Chairman Kim also agreed that this was a historic
moment. There was much less talk about what was meant to be the prime -- you know, prime element of discussion, and that was denuclearization.
Coming in to this summit, the urgent, urgent matter was denuclearization, and there's been a lot less talk about that. Certainly, we did not hear
Kim Jong-un mention the word once in public, although the Blue House, the presidential palace here, tells us that simply by accepting, which he did,
the Panmunjom Declaration, that is enshrined in that.
But even in the Panmunjom Declaration, the denuclearization aspect is literally the last paragraph, not the first paragraph, so I think we should
just see that in that context, and then realized that this is for many, many reasons, a complete break.
A 180-degree shift with all that we've bee reporting on between these two countries, between North Korea and the United States, and the region over
the last several months.
But this is pretty much a precursor to the real nuclear talks that are designed to go on between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. So I think that
that seems to me how it's all sort of shaping up at the moment. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, so, this is just a significant first step, a declaration made, but the details got to be hashed out next. Christiane Amanpour
reporting live from Seoul, thank you.
[08:10:05] Today's momentous events affect not just the Korean Peninsula, but the wider region as well. In a moment, we're going to speak to Anna
Stewart in Tokyo, but first, to CNN's Matt Rivers in Beijing.
And, Matt, as history unfolded today there are the DMZ, China is not there. China has not been part of the proceedings. How was that being felt in
Beijing?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, officially, not at all. Officially, the government here is saying that they welcome this development, that they
praised the political courage of both sides.
They say the only way to move forward with this crisis -- get away from this crisis is through these kinds of diplomatic talks, this sort of
peaceful negotiations.
And look, that's been China's consistent line the whole time. They were very uncomfortable with the kind of rhetoric that we saw let's say ago,
when things were quite tense.
But there's -- what they're saying publicly, and then what is going on behind the scenes, and if you ask any analyst here in China right now, they
will be telling you that there is concern in Beijing, that they're not a part of this negotiation, that they're not part of the next scheduled
negotiation, though we don't know the date yet.
But the next negotiation between the United States and North Korea, and that is of concern. Does Beijing worry that they're getting completely
boxed out? Absolutely not. You saw Kim Jong-un come to Beijing.
That was a huge sign of respect to the Chinese, it was a sign that North Korea recognizes, that it's China that is responsible for its economic
survival, but that said, as these negotiations happen, you know, Beijing government officials were watching that stuff the same way we were today.
Now perhaps they will get some more briefing that that is going to be publicly announces, but they were watching from the sidelines, and China
has major strategic interest in seeing these negotiations through.
I mean, look at the potential negotiation for a peace treaty, for example. China was one of the original members of that armistice that was signed.
They're going to have to have a say in that, and they're going to be the one that well, maybe in order for us to sign this, we want U.S. troops off
the Korean Peninsula, for example.
They're going to want to push their interests as much as they can. And so there is I think concern in Beijing that as this negotiation moves forward,
they don't have the kind of control that they had in years past, say with the six party talks back in the mid-2000s.
LU STOUT: Matt Rivers with a view from Beijing, thank you. And now let's take our discussion to Anna Stewart standing by in Tokyo for the view from
Japan.
And, Anna, we know Tokyo has long had a harder line with Pyongyang on issues like the abduction of its own citizens, on the weapons program that
allow missiles to fly overhead in Japan, the northern part of the country. Will this joint declaration -- is it going -- how is that going be weighed
in Tokyo there?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: well, we had a statement from Japan's Prime Minister just a couple of hours ago, and he said he welcomed today's
discussions, but he still maintained a note of caution. Take a listen to what Shinzo Abe said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHINZO ABE, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN (through a translator): I strongly hope North Korea will take concrete action following this meeting, and
through the summit meeting with the United States. I will keep a close watch on North Korea's future conduct.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: And political experts I've spoke to said the caution will be much deeper, even than that sound byte suggested there. Lots of concern about
whether this will be concrete action, whether this is just words.
We've had some great optics today, but, you know, what Japan really wants to see is denuclearization. It wants to see a ban on short and medium
range missiles, and it wants it Japanese adoptees held in North Korea returned. Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, Anna Stewart reporting live from Tokyo, many thanks indeed. On your screen right now is live pictures from the DMZ, from just
outside the peace house, as far of the closing ceremony, leaders of North and South Korea, and their wives, they are there, wrapping up their
historic summit where they vow the end of the Korean War.
They have just enjoyed a toast about 30 minutes ago, where they pledged to further shore up trust and relations between North and South Korea.
We'll continue to monitor the video feed from there. Any new developments, we'll bring it to you right here. Now we do have Paula Hancocks standing
by, not too far from where all this is taking place. And, Paula, is there going to be a live show under way? What's happening now with this closing
ceremony?
HANCOCKS: Well, it's unclear at this point. I mean, we do know, Kristie, that there were a number of North Korean singers that came down from the
North, though, South Koreans singers as well. I understood that was part of the banquet.
I'm not entirely sure what this is. It looks like it could be a live show, but certainly it would round off the optics of a picture friendly day quite
nicely. This is really the lighthearted part of the day.
The two leaders having done the hard work earlier in the day, sign that declaration, and then their wives joined the for the banquet.
And we did here the toast from Kim Jong-un, talking about how important it was that leaders were building trust. And that was really a key point of
today, the fact that the two leaders were getting to know each other.
[08:15:00] If they are going to take this declaration seriously, if they are going end to put to an end of the Korean war, and a denuclearized
Korean Peninsula, that is an immense amount of work of disagreements ahead of them.
So, clearly, they have to have some kind of relationship before that as well. And you can see this is a musical show as well as a live show. And
as I say, the lighthearted end to a very long day for these North and South Korean leaders.
But certainly I think from Moon Jae-in's point of view, he will see this as a very productive day. He can say that he has come away with an agreement,
with a pledge to denuclearize.
Yes, there are no details of how exactly that will happen, but he has the pledge in writing, and I think certainly from Moon Jae-in's point of view,
he will see that as a win. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, and let's continue our conversation as we look at these live picture coming in from the peace house at the DMZ, where the leaders
of North and South Korea, and their wives are there enjoying this show, the entertainment involving lights, a spectacle, some musicians performing as
well, a man at the piano.
And, Paula, as you were putting it, this caps off a very long, productive day that was designed to bring these two countries and these two men closer
together.
Now, for the South Korean President, he succeeded. It was a productive day. What do you think about the North Korean side, for Kim Jong-un, how
do you think he's feeling right now? What did he achieve at the end of the day?
HANCOCKS: Well, I think Kim Jong-un would potentially be feeling quite pleased as well. I mean, this is only his second meeting with a global
leader, and this one has been broadcast live around the world.
This is -- this is not a man who has had a lot of practice being natural in front of the cameras. He is constantly in front of the cameras, really,
when he's in North Korea, by state-run TV, but highly choreographed, that is heavily edited, him giving field guidance around the -- around the
country, or going to watch a missile launch.
So certainly it's a very different kettle of fish when you really him in this kind of atmosphere. It's quite remarkable how he has managed to deal
with today, no matter what you think of Kim Jong-un, no matter what you think of this human rights abuses, the fact that these two leaders have
managed to apparently form a bond, and things have gone picture perfect from a purely optics view.
But of course you do have to come back to the other aspects, the aspects that have effectively been papered over today. This is a human rights
abuser, the North Korean state is -- it has one of the worst human rights records in the world.
It has United Nations reports against it. And then you have this man, Moon Jae-in, who is a human rights activist, who is a human rights lawyer, and
now he's President of South Korea, so these are two very different individuals on a very basic level when it comes to human rights.
And we know that this was not brought up today, or at least publicly, it has not been acknowledged that this has been brought up. So certainly
there are human rights groups that say this was a missed opportunity.
That when you have the two leaders here, if it feels a little awkward, or importuned to bring it up now, then when do you bring up human rights? So
certainly there is that issue that has been papered over. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Paula Hancocks reporting live, we'll talk to you again very soon. Now, earlier today, an incredible day, we've heard from these two
leaders of North and South Korea vowing to end the Korean War.
Also vowing complete denuclearization, but can North Korea be trusted? Ho- young Ahn is a former South Korean Ambassador to the United States. And he joins me now live from Seoul.
Ambassador Ahn, thank you so much for joining us here on the program. Earlier, you told me colleague that you said a successful outcome would
have denuclearization at the center. So, watching what came out of these inter-Korean talks today, was this summit a success?
AHN HO-YOUNG, FORMER SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think so. It, in fact, went a long way in building the momentum, and then
as a matter of fact, that momentum, I think we'll be very, very held forward in pushing (ph) the relationship between South and North Korea.
And at the end of the day, that fond relationship between South and North Korea of course, there are very helpful ingredient to make denuclearization
move ahead.
And then I just went through this 13-point declaration of Panmunjom, and then many points stay about economic cooperation, there about building
peace on the Korean Peninsula, and then we have to refract in the sense that many of those points cannot be implemented sufficiently, if there is
no equivalent progress in denuclearization.
So, where I think Amanpour just pointed out in the sense that there are 13 points, and denuclearization is the 13th, and then the last point, and
Amanpour has a going point.
[08:20:02] But at the same time, I think all of those 13 points are interrelated.
So today, I think the two President Moon, and then Chairman Kim, they did a good job of building the momentum, but now the question is, how they can
continue that momentum.
LU STOUT: Absolutely. You are saying momentum has been built. On the surface it seems to have been a success. In this closing ceremony, very
triumphant one, it's showcasing the success for the world to see as we look at these live pictures.
There may be this declaration, but as you say, details need to be worked out, including the meaning of complete denuclearization. What does that
mean for North Koreans, how does that compare to help South Korea views it?
HO-YOUNG: Well, Kristie, the thing is, there has been different interpretation, and that, in fact, has made it difficult for us to, in
fact, implement many of the agreements that we had made before.
So, the first thing which must happen this time, and then this is something President Moon already said, which is that he said that detail -- I mean,
the devil is in the detail, and then we have to work out the detail.
And they talk about the detail, and one thing we have to work out could be common understanding about what we mean by denuclearization, and in my
mind, there can be only one interpretation of denuclearization, which must be CVID. That's acronym for comprehensive, verifiable, and irreversible
dismantlement of nuclear weapons.
LU STOUT: Yes, and the CVID principle is a principle we're going to be digging into a little bit later in the program, but I want to ask you about
the issue of trust.
We did hear Kim Jong-un with a glass of champagne in his hand, offer that toast to Moon Jae-in, to building up trust between North and South Korea.
Should the world trust North Korea -- trust that North Korea is committed to complete denuclearization?
HO-YOUNG: Well, trust, of course, cannot be built overnight, but the reason why I say if there is one word to sum up today's proceeding, that
must be momentum.
It is because momentum has been built, and then if he can't take advantage of this momentum to build trust, then I think it's a good day spent.
But at the me time, of course, trust must, in fact, be very closely linked with verification, and verification is honored area where much, in fact,
effort has to be made to further clarify how verification can be done in the whole process.
LU STOUT: Yes, verification is the necessary next step to achieve complete denuclearization. But that has been a stumbling block in the past. And
what can be done this time around to make sure that North Korea is on board with verification, and verification of denuclearization?
HO-YOUNG: Well, verification, if you look at some of the previous agreements, that is to say agreement we made in 1994, or 2005, or 2007,
then I have to say, maybe we were not thorough enough in coming with what we meant by verification.
So that is the reason why I'm thinking, and saying that we must learn from past mistakes, and this time, we must in faith come up with a far -- well,
detailed ideas, and then plans for the verification.
LU STOUT: Ambassador Ahn Ho-young so much for joining us here on the program, and take care. Now world leaders are welcoming today's historic
summit on the Korean Peninsula. And the leaders of North and South Korea are promising to officially end the Korean War by the end of the year.
A short time ago, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, they signed that declaration for peace and prosperity. The two say that they share a goal of a nuclear
free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization.
Donald Trump says good things are happening, but only time will tell. Now this moment, I would like to bring in Mike Chinoy, author of Meltdown: The
Inside Story of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis, and a former CNN Asia Senior Correspondent. He joins me now. And, Mike, thank you for joining
us.
And as we look at these live pictures of the closing ceremony wrapping up this day, let's talk about the stage craft of this day, because we've never
seen anything like this before. I mean, the two leaders, you know, they've been at the center of so much tension.
They're enjoying champagne together, enjoyed some live music. Right now, this is being filmed live for the world to see. Earlier today, we saw them
hold hands across the line of demarcation, your thoughts on the powerful imagery of this day.
MIKE CHINOY, SENIOR FELLOW, USC U.S.-CHINA INSTITUTE: The North and the South had important reasons for wanting this to come off successfully, and
wanting to project that to the rest of the world.
One very important audience is in Washington, specifically in the White House. Despite the differences between the North and the South, it's clear
that the South Korean President had become very alarmed over the last several months at the possibility that a real serious military strike
against North Korea was being considered by the Trump administration.
[08:25:11] And Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un had a joint interest in trying to stage this summit, and create an impression of progress, of goodwill, of
reconciliation, because that, to some degree will foreclose even further, the military option that had been under consideration in Washington.
And I think it also shows the idea, which Kim Jong-un -- Kim Jong-un is a pretty sophisticated operator. He is clearly very comfortable in front of
cameras, and part of what has been going on with North Korea, Kim Jong-un himself talked about a new strategic line of wanting to shift the focus
away from the military towards the economy, and to reach out, and improve relations with North Korea's adversaries.
So for him to project the kind of image that he was able to do today, of being a reasonable, rational, reasonably friendly guy, he laughed, he
smiled, not at all like the mechanical robot that he is often caricatured as, I think it was important for him as well in trying to move that goal
forward.
LU STOUT: Right, and just to get your comment on what we are seeing right now because these are just more live pictures from outside the peace house
where these inter-Korean talks took place.
At the center of our screen, we see live Kim Jong-un, Ri Sol-ju, his wife right next to him, along with Moon Jae-in, and his wife as well. I mean,
it is truly remarkable that we're seeing this live and unfiltered. This is not through the filter of KCNA, and we've been seeing this type of imagery
all day.
CHINOY: That's right. And I think this is going to serve to humanize Kim Jong-un, to make him a figure who is harder to demonize, and that serves
his political purposes, but I think it's important not to be so caught up in the atmosphere, and the imagery to lose side of the very difficult
issues that still remain.
There was a commentary in the North Korean official, Korean Central News Agency today, which talked about the great victory of Kim Jong-un's line of
combing the development of a nuclear program with developing the economy, and laid out a marker I think, for the Trump summit about the continuation
of sanctions.
And saying, essentially, the message was, if the U.S. wants to reciprocate our good will, it needs to change its line on sanctions. So I think we can
already see the North Koreans positioning themselves to say to President Trump, we need you to lift sanctions if you want to look like you're
responding...
(CROSSTALK)
LU STOUT: Mike, I just want to focus our viewers' attention to what they're seeing on the screen. Kim Jong-un and his wife, they are inside
that black limousine, surrounded by their body guards running around them as their car leaves the peace house.
The sight of today's inter-Korean talks, this wrapping up, an eventful historic day of talks between the leaders of North and South Korea, and as
we look at these live pictures of the North Korean leader in that car, leaving the site of the peace house there at the DMZ.
Mike, you were talking about the difference between optics, images that we're seeing of this, and reality. You this is the day that we may have
seen just Kim Jong-un having a toast, Kim Jong-un pledging for more trust between North and South Korea.
The two leaders, Kim and Moon, holding hands, planting a tree, sharing a meal together, sharing a glass of champagne together, and then this stand
off, but at the end of the day, is this going to lead to any meaningful role back of North Korea's weapons, and nuclear capability?
CHINOY: Well, predicting the future on the Korean Peninsula has always been a very front exercise. I think the one question that raises here is,
how far can this wrap arsenal go without major up front North Korean gestures on the nuclear issue?
It's clear that the South Korean President is willing to try, and build a more positive relationship with the hope that in the course of that
relationship, there can be movement on the nuclear issue.
President Trump has made clear that he wants North Korea to essentially commit up front to giving up its nuclear program before it gets anything
from Washington.
And if Kim Jong-un's position is, we need Washington up front, to get rid of sanctions, and make clear that we're going have a better relationship,
then the two sides are going to remain at odds.
LU STOUT: Absolutely. And at this moment, we're looking at the car carrying the South Korean President Moon Jae-in leaving the peace house
after an eventful day of talks.
And, Mike, let's talk more about President Moon Jae-in because he has -- you know, despite people not believing that this could happen, this vision
that this could take place, there would be the Peace Olympics, that these inter-Korean talks is at such a high level could take place.
He has had this vision of a peaceful coexistence with North Korea. After what happened there at the Peace House at the DMZ, and that declaration
being announced, are we a step closer to that becoming a reality?
CHINOY: Well, certainly what has happened with this summit lowers the temperature. It reduces the tension between the two Koreas and it opens the
door, it creates a channel for the North and South, for the two leaders to try to work through their differences.
But for all the talk about Korea being one country, one people and so on, the divisions between the North and the South are enormous. In the North,
you have a political system built around one god-like leader. In the South, you have a very robust democracy.
In the North, you have a very backward economy. In the South, you have one of the world's most sophisticated, advanced economies with more people
online, wired for the internet than almost anywhere else in the world, much more integrated to the world economy. The South also has a security
relationship with the United States.
So, how you get from expressions of a desire to bring the two closer together to workable arrangements that can manage all those differences is
an enormous challenge. But to solve the problem, there has to be a first step, and this is at least an important initial step.
LU STOUT: Absolutely, this is just that first step forward. Mike Chinoy, many thanks to you. You're watching "News Stream." We will be back after
this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. Let's return to today's top story on the Korean Peninsula where the leaders of North and
South Korea are wrapping up a historic summit.
And what has been a day of incredible political theater and gesturing, the key thing to emerge from the summit is that the two Korean leaders have
promised to officially end the 65-year-old conflict between the two nations later this year. For all the smiles and sense of of solidarity from today's
events, enormous challenges remain for the Korean Peninsula.
For more on that, let's speak to Christopher Hill, the former U.S. ambassador to South Korea. He joins us now live. Ambassador Hill, thank you
for joining us here on such a historic day. Going into the summit at the DMZ, the expectations were so high. Did this day of talks meet
expectations? Can it be called a success in your view?
CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA: Oh, so far so good. I mean, I think you would have to be a real curmudgeon not to believe
that this is simply extraordinary. Obviously, implementation is enormous. There have been previous examples of North Korea agreeing to denuclearize
including most recently in 2005, so a lot has to be done, but my goodness, this was really quite amazing.
[08:35:08] LU STOUT: Yeah, it's an amazing first step, but then comes just going through with that promise of complete denuclearization. We heard
from Donald Trump earlier. He says that he expects North Korea to give up its nukes, but will Pyongyang even agree to the first step of
denuclearization? I'm talking about outside inspection and verification.
HILL: Yes. The first step will be shutting down reactor which was shut previously. Getting international inspectors back in there making sure it
stays shut down and then disabling it, and then if they could move beyond that toward dismantling it. They've never gotten as far as dismantling, so
that would be an enormous example of progress.
And then, the second thing, of course, is that they have quite proudly put together uranium enrichment facility. And so it would be good to see that
and to make sure that's not working and see that it's decommissioned.
So, lots of work ahead. Of course, the summit communique was little light on the actual timing, and certainly didn't talk about the steps to be
taken. But I must say the South Koreans and North Koreans really did some preparation for this summit, and I hope the U.S. summit with Kim Jong-un
has a similar amount of preparation.
LU STOUT: Yeah, a very significant amount of preparation going into these talks and future talks. A question for you about the sincerity of the North
Koreans to give up its nuclear arsenal. I mean, last weekend, we got the relatively positive news, North Korea said it would not conduct any more
weapons tests, but it did not mention giving up its program. So, does Kim Jong-un have any intention to give up his nukes?
HILL: Well, I think there is a lot of room for skepticism, especially at the fact that this is such a huge part of what North Korea does, that is
build these weapons, build these missiles. So I think there is a lot of room for skepticism about whether they will follow through and if they do,
what time frame?
And many commentators have talked about somehow if they have a different concept of denuclearization. I don't think there is a different concept. I
think the problem is what do they want in return? And again, that's been very vague.
I mean, clearly, they don't do anything for nothing. So, do they want economic assistance? Do they want the U.S. off the Peninsula? Do they want
some cuts to U.S. strategic arms programs? Lots of questions remaining, but no question that this was a good first step.
LU STOUT: And the question about negotiating with the North Koreans, because you've done that before, how should Donald Trump and his
negotiating team be prepared in the event for when that meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump takes place?
HILL: Well, I think like a lot of negotiation, I don't care if you're buying a new car or whatever, you've got to negotiate on the basis that the
other side is going to have something. You're not just negotiating with air.
So I think Donald Trump needs to be prepared for the North Koreans coming back to him, and he needs to know what he's prepared to give and what he's
not prepared to give. So I do hope that there is a lot of preparation for this president because he's going to need it.
LU STOUT: Now, Donald Trump is very proud of his art of the deal, for his ability to seal the deal. He's not really well known for his patience or
his light touch with diplomacy. Do you fear that, you know, he may lose his patience during this very delicate diplomatic point of time?
HILL: Well, as someone who sat for four years with the North Koreans, I think patience is a big part of what you do. At the same time, I think it's
pretty clear the U.S. president should have the right to set some expectations.
And in that regard, I would hope that he gets his national security advisor from whom we have heard very little, that is John Bolton, who made an
entire career on the notion that you never negotiate with anybody, you tell them what to do. So I'd like to see what John Bolton is thinking and
saying, specifically what he's preparing for his boss, because this is an enormous issue.
If there's a perception in South Korea that the Americans have kind of not made a big effort or have sort of stormed out of the talks in a huff or
something, I think there could be real ramifications for U.S.-South Korean relationship and that's obviously the key relationship on the Korean
Peninsula. So I just do hope that John Bolton is preparing his president for success.
LU STOUT: Christopher Hill, we thank you for making yourself available for comment on this historic day. Thank you so much and take care.
[08:40:02] You're watching "News Stream." Still to come, champagne toasts after a remarkable day of diplomacy. The leaders of North and South Korea
vow to ushering a new era of peace. The top moments from the historic summit just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: A short time ago, North and South Korea wrapped up their historic summit at the DMZ. Leaders meeting face-to-face for the first time
in over a decade and pledging to end the war that is still technically going on after six decades.
It all started with a hearty handshake. Both leaders smiling and then South Korean President Moon Jae-in ushered Kim Jong-un across the military
demarcation line. And he became the first North Korean leader to enter the southern side.
Now, in another incredible moment, the two leaders took a walk and they sat down together. No microphones. Cameras only allowed to film at a distance.
And finally, they signed what they're calling the Panmunjom Declaration.
And President Moon grabbed the North Korean leader's hand in that sign of victory. They pledged to work toward the complete denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula and official end to the war by the end of the year.
And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Amanda Davis is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
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