North And South Korea Agree To Ending The Korean War
GOYANG, South Korea (CBSNewYork/CBS News) -- After 65 years, North and South Korea have agreed to formally ending the Korean War.
The development follows a historic day of talks between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and the South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.
The Koreas agreed to a formal end to the war later this year with a peace treaty and to immediately end all hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, involving trilateral or four-way talks with the U.S. and China, CBS News reported.
WATCH: The North and South Korean leaders planted a pine tree, which stands for peace and prosperity, on the Military Demarcation Line, which has symbolized confrontation and division over the past 65 years. https://t.co/Bu5AEbC3JE pic.twitter.com/dho1ycMzL7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 27, 2018
In a joint statement following the talks, the two Koreas confirmed their goal of achieving "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization."
President Moon said "there will not be any more war on the Korean peninsula. A new era of peace has begun."
On Twitter Friday morning, President Donald Trump said: "KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!"
In an earlier tweet, Trump said, "Good things are happening, but only time will tell!"
Trump said other presidents should have handled the issue a long time ago, but now he has the responsibility to see that North Korea is de-nuclearized.
"I want to congratulate the Republic of Korea on its historic summit with North Korea," he said.
The president is expected to meet with Kim in May or June.
In a joint White House appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump said the details of their summit are being worked out.
"We're setting up meetings now. We are down to two countries as to a site. And we'll let you know what that site is," he said.
He was asked whether he's concerned Kim is trying once again to "play the United States."
"I agree the United States has been played beautifully like a fiddle, because we had a different kind of leader. We're not going to be played," he replied.
Trump was also asked if in the absence of a new nuclear agreement with Iran, would he be willing to use force in the region.
"I don't talk about whether or not I'd use military force. It's not appropriate to be talking about. But I can tell you this: they will not be doing nuclear weapons. That I can tell you, OK," he said. "They are not going to be doing nuclear weapons. You can bank on it."
The president said if he doesn't get what he wants in the Korea talks, he can walk out. And he said that would mean a very tough time for a lot of countries and a lot of people.