How the world must see Kim Jong-un's historic visit to South Korea
The last Friday of April could turn out to be a landmark day for posterity. The day witnessed a historic joint declaration by the two Koreas - North and South. The summit between Kim Jong-un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea, and Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, brought a spring to the peace-hopping wagon and was dubbed as the "Panmunjom Declaration".
Pleasantries exchanged between Moon and Kim were in stark contrast to 2017's torrents of punches and counter-punches, missile and nuclear tests, even fomenting a war-scare. This time it was more about jokes and friendly gestures, including Kim offering a blithesome apology for waking Moon up with his early morning missile tests over the last 12 months.
The Korean War ravaged the peninsula from 1950 to 1953 and in reality has not met its end even though we are in 65th year of the armistice. The unnatural armistice never led to a formal peace treaty and the moratorium has demanded formidable military engagement to maintain status quo on the 38th parallel (latitude dividing the two countries), ironically called the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
This is not even the first time leaders of North and South Korea have pronounced hope for peace. There were two earlier summits in 2000 and 2007, in Pyongyang. However, they could not stricture North Korea's weapons programme or foster more enduring warmth in the bilateral relations.
Kim alluded to history and the foiled attempts and asseverated to make amends. To create lasting communication and ensure the incumbent process will not end with its beginning like past agreements. Also, Kim and Moon indicated towards hatching a quadrilateral engagement involving the two Koreas, the United States and China to help fructify a robust peace regime and to declare an official end to the war this year.
They agreed to formulate an actionable plan to transform the areas around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone, which often witnesses military clashes. This would also bring the benefit of safe fishing activities, a much-needed relief for many on the Korean coastline.
In the past, North Korea and China have demanded the United States to withdraw its troops and remove its "nuclear halo" over South Korea. Reportedly, the Korean peninsula harbours nearly 28,500 American troops at the moment.
As far as denuclearisation goes, the meet fell short on conspicuous commitments and failed to dispel the doubts about whether Pyongyang is really committed to relinquishing its nuclear arsenal, a veritable thorn for the United States. The duo agreed on a common goal of a "nuclear-free" peninsula but shied away from delineating how they propose to realise it. Unless there is a firm underpinning of practical and measurable steps for verifiable nuclear disarmament, the spiel alone will reduce the declaration to mere hopeful fascinations.
As the statements pervaded Twitter-sphere, US President Donald Trump was quick with his assertions that Kim must completely abandon his nuclear missile programme and garnered credit for bringing Kim to the negotiating table through his dual strategy of economic sanctions and military muscle flexing.
The Trump administration has tightened the noose around North Korea with China's aid. However, several analysts have warned that once negotiations with the US begin, North Korea could push them into a stalemate by trying to drag Washington into nuclear arms reduction conditions of its own.
It could just turn out to be a stratagem to evade the chokehold of economic sanctions and turn the table on US in terms of dismantling its nuclear architecture and presence of US troops in South Korea.
The Kim-Moon meeting was meant to be the preshow before the main event of a Trump-Kim summit, the first ever encounter between the incumbent leaders of the two countries. Over the last 12 months, there have been heated trash talk, military jabs and personal barbs but as Trump stressed, "It's never gone this far. This enthusiasm for them wanting to make a deal... We are going to hopefully make a deal."
Kim fluttered the dovecotes in 2017 by long-range missiles testing and trading nuclear threats. But then in a startling volte-face proposed a meeting with Trump and offered a way to effectuate nuclear disarmament. The summit meet could be held late in May or early June.
US vice-president Mike Pence was more cautious intimating that North Korea's promises would be "met with reservation, vigilance, and verification". Symbolically formidable but practically mild deliverables might force US into a disarmament glaciations or an impasse.
Some have also alluded to the fact that Kim maybe willing to take the US for a ride, as relenting his nuclear stronghold will considerably jeopardise the survival of his dynasty. This could turn out to be just a catalyst to demolish the current cordon sanitaire.
Expanding the geopolitical canvass, China, North Korea's main ally, welcomed Kim and Moon's statement. Its tone and timbre for entreating political solutions may represent the fear of being isolated by a thaw between the two Koreas and by the Trump-Kim summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe embraced the summit but was clear to notify that North Korea must take concrete steps to carry out its promises. Russia, as cool as the Siberian winter, offered cooperation in railway transport and energy.
Among other announcements, South and North Korea committed to reconnect the blood relations of the people across the 38th parallel, a move towards peaceful co-existence and advancement in inter-Korean relations.
This could only further the aspirations and desires of numerous families shredded to pining portions on either side of the border.
Kim has recently adopted a "new strategic line" proposed on economic development as he pronounced an end to nuclear missile testing. Although, he emphasised that North Korea has already found proficiency in missile technology and doesn't require anymore tests.
Moon brought the carrot of economic incentive with promises of huge investments to help improve the North's road and train systems. In response, Kim also spared effusion for the bullet train in South Korea as well as acknowledged the poor road conditions in his country, puncturing his own cloak of invincibility and perfection.
There were promises to pursue phased reduction of hostilities, arms, and transmutation of battle fault lines into an arena of peace and conviviality. As 80 million Koreans and the many more across the globe stood in testimony, both leaders mutually foisted the flag of détente and end of war on the Korean peninsula. Only time will determine if this heralds an age of amity or another tedious exercise in pyrrhic repeat.
For now though, the renewed zeal for reconciliation and disarmament is accompanied by a visage wrought with moments of candour. Clocks are in motion to deliver on the promises made and in case they are found missing in praxis then all the garlanding and hugs will only be regarded as an exercise in diplomatic stagecraft and wizardry.