통일부 “남북정상회담, 실용적 방향으로 준비... 종전선언 구축위해 노력”

The announcement that the two Koreas are seeking to sign a peace treaty to formally end their almost-seventy-year-long war could have caught many by surprise, but Seoul's unification ministry says it's already been discussed between Seoul and Pyongyang in their previous summits.
But through the upcoming inter-Korean summit, Seoul hopes to reach to some practical results... and have a smooth transition to the Washington-Pyongyang summit.
Oh Jung-hee has more.
Are South and North Korea seeking to formally end the Korean War and settle on a peace treaty to replace the armistice agreement?
That's what U.S. President Donald Trump's comment at Mar-a-Lago ahead of his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday seemed to suggest.

"People don't realize that the Korean War has not ended. It is going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war, subject to a deal. And they do have my blessing to discuss that."

Seoul's presidential office echoed Trump's remark on Wednesday... and said it's seeking to reach to a peace treaty with the North at next Friday's summit talks.
The announcement came as a surprise... as the agenda to be discussed with the North Korean leader after over ten years of frozen relations... has remained vague.
South Korea's unification ministry says... previous agreements between Seoul and Pyongyang have already stipulated the issue of ending the Korean war... and through this opportunity, the South Korean government opts to realize that.

"South and North Korea have agreed on the issue of ending the Korean War in their joint declaration made on October 4th, 2007. The declaration stipulates that the two Koreas end the current armistice status and see eye-to-eye in building a permanent peace,... and the three or four parties directly involved meet on the Korean peninsula to cooperate on declaring the end of the war."

Through this historic summit, the South Korean government hopes to reach to some practical results.
The unification ministry says... it will minimize ceremonial events for the upcoming summit and focus on enabling a frank and comprehensive discussion between the two leaders.
High-level or working-level talks could be held afterwards for further arrangements.
Close coordination and communication with the U.S. will be continued... for the inter-Korean summit to smoothly lead to the Washington-Pyongyang summit and achieve positive results.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.