South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold a summit of their leaders late next month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in's top security adviser said Tuesday on the outcome of his trip to the North.
The third inter-Korean summit between Moon and the North's leader Kim Jong-un will be held at the joint security area of Panmunjeom, Chung Eui-yong told a press briefing.
The announcement, which was not widely expected, followed Chung's two-day trip to Pyongyang as Moon's special envoy.
While in the North Korean capital, Chung and four other South Korean envoys held an unprecedented meeting with the North Korean leader.
"The South and the North have agreed to set up a hotline between their leaders to allow close consultations and a reduction of military tension, while also agreeing to hold the first phone conversation before the third South-North summit," Chung said.
North Korea has also restated its commitment to rid itself of nuclear weapons, according to Chung.
"The North side clearly affirmed its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and said it would have no reason to possess nuclear weapons should the safety of its regime be guaranteed and military threats against North Korea removed," he said.
The North also expressed its willingness to hold "candid" talks with the United States on ways to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula and normalize the countries' bilateral ties.
It also said there would be no military provocations, such as an additional nuclear test or ballistic missile launches, as long as the US-North Korea talks are in progress, Chung said.
"In addition, the North promised not to use not only nuclear weapons but also conventional weapons against the South," he added.
Demonstrating the apparent thaw in inter-Korean ties, the North has invited a South Korean taekwondo demonstration team and an art performance team to perform in Pyongyang.
The visit, if made, will reciprocate earlier trips to South Korea by their North Korean counterparts during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games held February 9-25.
