Korean leaders eye peace treaty and co-operation

THE leaders of North and South Korea yesterday pledged to seek a peace treaty to replace the Korean War’s 1953 ceasefire and expand projects to reduce tension across the world’s last Cold War frontier.

The pact came a day after a deal at China-hosted arms talks among North Korea, the US and other regional powers, in which Pyongyang promised to disable its main nuclear facilities and fully declare its nuclear programmes by December 31.

The move would be the biggest step North Korea has taken to scale back its nuclear ambitions after decades of seeking to develop the world’s deadliest weapons. US President George W Bush hailed it as a key for “peace and prosperity” in north-east Asia.

The bilateral agreement capped three days of meetings in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. They “agreed to closely cooperate to end military hostility and ensure peace and easing of tension on the Korean peninsula”, according to a joint statement.

Substantive progress on any peace treaty would require the participation of the US and China, which also fought in the conflict. South Korea never signed the 1953 armistice ending the war.

China said the agreement would aid regional peace and stability.

“The South and North shared the view that they should end the current armistice regime and establish a permanent peace regime,” the pact said.