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WORLD NEWS Monday 31 deceMber 2018

N. Korean leader calls for more talks with South in new year

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Through three summits be-
Associated Press tween Moon and Kim this
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) year, the Koreas agreed
— North Korean leader to a variety of goodwill
Kim Jong Un sent a letter gestures and vowed to re-
to South Korean President sume economic coopera-
Moon Jae-in on Sunday tion when possible, voicing
calling for more peace optimism that international
talks between the leaders sanctions could end to al-
in the new year following low such activity.
their active engagement The rivals have also taken
in 2018, South Korea's presi- steps to reduce their con-
dential office said. ventional military threat,
Moon's office said Kim also such as removing mines
expressed regret that he and firearms from the bor-
couldn't make a planned der village of Panmunjom,
visit to Seoul, South Ko- destroying some front-line
rea's capital, by the end guard posts and creating
of December as pledged buffer zones along their
by the leaders during their land and sea boundaries
last summit in September and a no-fly zone above
in Pyongyang, the North the border.
Korean capital. The Blue "Chairman Kim said that
House didn't fully disclose the leaders by meeting In this April 27, 2018, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, prepares to shake hands
with South Korean President Moon Jae-in over the military demarcation line at the border village
Kim's letter. three times in a single year of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone.
Moon later thanked Kim and implementing bold Associated Press
for his "warm" letter in a measures to overcome
tweeted message and the long period of conflict
said without elaborating lifted our (Korean) nation
that Kim expressed strong from military tension and
willingness to carry out the war fears," Kim Eui-kyeom,
agreements he made this Moon's spokesman, said in
year during a series of in- a televised briefing.
ter-Korean summits and a "Chairman Kim said he will
historic June meeting with keep a close eye on the
President Donald Trump. situation and expressed
"There will still be a lot of dif- strong will to visit Seoul.
ficulties ahead," Moon said ... Chairman Kim also ex-
in his message. pressed his intentions to
"However, our hearts will meet President Moon fre-
become more open if quently again in 2019 to
we put in that much ef- advance discussions on the
fort. There's no change in Korean Peninsula's peace
our heart about welcom- and prosperity and discuss
ing Chairman Kim (to the issues on the denucleariza-
South)." tion of the Korean Peninsu-
The tweet also included a la," the spokesman said.
photo that showed a ruby- Moon's office did not re-
colored folder emblazoned veal how Kim Jong Un's let-
with the seal of Pyong- ter was delivered or wheth-
yang's powerful State Af- er he made any comments
fairs Commission and the about his planned second
top part of Kim's letter, summit with Trump in 2019.
which started with: "Dear The letter comes days be-
your excellency President fore Kim is expected to
Moon Jae-in. Our meeting address North Koreans in
in Pyongyang feels like yes- a New Year's speech that
terday but about 100 days North Korean leaders tra-
have already passed and ditionally use to announce
now we are at the close of major policy decisions and
an unforgettable 2018." goals.q