A meeting between officials from North and South Korea on Monday has fuelled claims that the two countries could be planning to hold a summit between their leaders in Pyongyang later this month. If the Pyongyang summit does take place, it would be the third meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in less than six months.
A South Korea delegation led by Cho Myoung-gyon, the Minister for Unification, commenced talks at the truce village at Panmunjom with a North Korean delegation led by Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North’s reunification committee.
Media agencies in South Korea claim the two countries are preparing for a third summit that could be held as early as the end of August or early September. The delegations could possibly consider a date after the reunion ceremonies of families separated by the Korean War, which is held from August 20-26, and before North Korea celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding on September 9.
Kim Eui-kyeom, a spokesperson for President Moon, said he hoped the delegations can decide on the date and venue of the leaders' next summit.
Moon and Kim met on April 27 this year at the South Korean side of Panmunjom, in a much publicised meeting. They met again on May 26 on the North Korean side of Panmunjom, though the second meeting had not been announced beforehand.
The planned Moon-Kim summit comes amid worries in the US that North Korea is yet to agree to a timeline for elimination of its nuclear weapons.