Moon heads home after third summit with Kim, joint declaration signed
Updated 06:57, 21-Sep-2018
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05:04
Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in wrapped up his third summit with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, during which the two leaders held bilateral talks, signed an agreement and took a trip to Mount Paektu.
Updated at 15:40 BJT
Moon headed home Thursday afternoon after a joint trip with Kim to Mount Paektu, wrapping up their third summit.
ROK President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook bow as they board a plane at an airport near Mount Paektu, DPRK, September 20, 2018. /Reuters photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook bow as they board a plane at an airport near Mount Paektu, DPRK, September 20, 2018. /Reuters photo

The two leaders signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration during the summit, which outlined steps toward ending military tensions and achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, meaning the de facto end of the Korean War.
Kim announced he will visit Seoul by the end of the year, at Moon's invitation.
Updated at 10:30 BJT
Moon and Kim embarked on a rare trip on Thursday to Mount Paektu (also spelled as "Paekdu") in northern DPRK, according to Yonhap News Agency. 
Both leaders reached the Cheonji crater lake on top of Mount Paektu at around 10:20 a.m. local time. In April, Moon stated that he would love to climb Mount Paektu during a banquet after his first summit with Kim. 
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and ROK President Moon Jae-in on the top of Mount Paektu. /VCG Photo

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and ROK President Moon Jae-in on the top of Mount Paektu. /VCG Photo

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in on the top of Mount Paektu. /VCG Photo

Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in on the top of Mount Paektu. /VCG Photo

Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook pose for photographs on the top of Mount Paektu, DPRK. /VCG Photo

Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook pose for photographs on the top of Mount Paektu, DPRK. /VCG Photo

"Many people in the South would go to Mount Paektu from the China side, but I decided not to, pledging myself that I would go stepping on our soil," Moon told Kim after reaching the peak of the mountain.
"But time flew so fast, and I thought my wish may not come true, but it did today."
They will return to Pyongyang later in the day when the ROK president is also set to return home.
Updated at 21:44 BJT, September 19
00:47
Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang to mark the end of the second day of their summit.
During the ceremony, Moon made his first address to the public in Pyongyang, calling for joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
All threats and fear of war should be eliminated, and the Korean people should live together to build a new era of peace, said Moon. 
Updated at 19:30 BJT
ROK's President Moon Jae-in attended the unveiling ceremony for a commemorative tree in Pyongyang and also paid a visit to Mansudae Art Studio, one of the largest centers of art production in the world. 
ROK's President Moon Jae-in attends an unveiling ceremony of the commemorative tree in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK's President Moon Jae-in attends an unveiling ceremony of the commemorative tree in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK's President Moon Jae-in visits Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK's President Moon Jae-in visits Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 15:50 BJT
Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in held luncheon at a restaurant in Pyongyang which is famous for Pyongyang-style cold noodles or "naengmyeon."
ROK's President Moon Jae-in (L) and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un attend a luncheon in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK's President Moon Jae-in (L) and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un attend a luncheon in Pyongyang, DPRK, September 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 14:02 BJT
Kim and Moon will take a joint trip to Mount Paektu on Thursday, according to Yonhap.
Moon is expected to visit major facilities in Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon.
Updated at 12:28 p.m. BJT
The two leaders signed a summit agreement after their private one-on-one meeting and later held a press briefing to announce the outcomes, including Kim's visit to Seoul, the shutdown of nuclear sites, and future cooperation in various fields. 
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Updated at 11:11 a.m. BJT
Moon Jae-in addresses the press after talks with Kim Jong Un at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Moon Jae-in addresses the press after talks with Kim Jong Un at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Moon told the press that the two countries had agreed to remove all sources of conflict from the Korean Peninsula, stressing that they agreed to specific denuclearization steps for the first time. 
The DPRK agreed to permanently shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon and would allow international inspections, according to Moon. 
The two sides will also begin work to reconnect cross-border rails and roads before the end of this year, Moon said.
Updated at 10:45 a.m. BJT
Kim Jong Un addresses the press after talks with Moon Jae-in at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Kim Jong Un addresses the press after talks with Moon Jae-in at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

The newly inked Pyongyang Joint Declaration will lift inter-Korean ties to a new level and will advance an era of peace and prosperity, the DPRK top leader said at a press conference after his second-round talks with the ROK president in Pyongyang. 
Kim said that he and Moon agreed to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and threats.
Kim also said that he will travel to Seoul in the near future.
Moon Jae-in (L) and Kim Jong Un (R) sign a summit document at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Moon Jae-in (L) and Kim Jong Un (R) sign a summit document at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Updated at 10:22 a.m. BJT
The two leaders signed a summit agreement after their private one-on-one talks on Wednesday morning.
The content of the agreement was immediately not known.
Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un sign documents during the inter-Korean summit at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /Reuters photo

Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un sign documents during the inter-Korean summit at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /Reuters photo

Kim and Moon will hold a joint news conference after the signing ceremony, and after the defense chiefs from both sides adopt a separate military pact, Moon's press secretary said.
Updated at 10:10 a.m. BJT
Kim and Moon were set to sign a summit agreement as their private one-on-one talks concluded, according to Yonhap.
Defense chiefs of the two countries will also ink a comprehensive military agreement on reducing tensions, Yonhap said.
Updated at 9:37 a.m. BJT
Kim Jong Un, Moon Jae-in resume talks as inter-Korean summit enters day two at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Kim Jong Un, Moon Jae-in resume talks as inter-Korean summit enters day two at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, September 19, 2018. /VCG photo

Kim and Moon are holding a private one-on-one meeting at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, according to media reports.
Depending on the progress made in their talks, a joint announcement of the outcome may be made, said Yoon Young-chan, Moon's senior press secretary.
"It is still difficult to predict how an agreement will be reached between the two leaders," he said in a daily press briefing in Seoul.
Should the leaders decide to hold a joint press conference, it will be broadcast live, the official said. 
Updated at 21:50 BJT, September 18
Following their summit, the two leaders enjoyed an art performance in Pyongyang together with their wives.
The DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra performs Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra performs Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju, come down to the stage after the art performance at Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju, come down to the stage after the art performance at Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 18:30 BJT, September 18
The meeting between the two leaders ended at 5:45 p.m. local time, according to Moon's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.
During their meeting, Kim thanked Moon for his efforts to make the DPRK-US summit in June a reality.
"North-South (DPRK-ROK) relations, North (DPRK) -US relations have improved. President Moon helped find the start of the historic North Korea (DPRK) -US talks," Kim told Moon, according to Yonhap.
Moon called for more progress during talks with Kim.
"I wish this will be a summit that produces abundant results as a gift to the 80 million people of this nation for Chuseok," Moon said, referring to one of the major traditional holidays for Koreans, which falls on next Monday when family members will gather to give thanks to their ancestors.
A handwritten message by ROK President Moon Jae-in is seen at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. The message reads: "for Peace and prosperity, the mind of nation is one!" /Reuters Photo

A handwritten message by ROK President Moon Jae-in is seen at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. The message reads: "for Peace and prosperity, the mind of nation is one!" /Reuters Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un make a toast during a banquet in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un make a toast during a banquet in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

"The entire world is also watching, so [I] hope we will show the fruits of peace and prosperity to all people in the world," Moon said.
A welcome banquet for visiting Moon is expected to be held shortly after the meeting.
The two leaders will meet again on Wednesday for the second round of talks, with a joint statement expected to be released later in the day.
Updated at 14:43 BJT, September 18
The two leaders have started their first meeting during the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang. 
ROK President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un as they arrive for their meeting at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un as they arrive for their meeting at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, DPRK, Sept. 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 14:04 BJT, September 18
Thousands of people in the DPRK holding floral bouquets lined the streets of Pyongyang to greet DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and ROK President Moon Jae-in.
VCG Photo

VCG Photo

The two leaders waved from their car on their way to the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse, where Moon and his wife will stay during their trip to Pyongyang.
They are scheduled to hold their first talks at 14:30 BJT. 
02:56
Updated at 9:14 a.m. BJT, September 18
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un welcomed visiting ROK President Moon Jae-in at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.
01:10
The two leaders shook hands and hugged and greeted each other after Moon touched down.
Updated at 8:59 a.m. BJT, September 18
The ROK president Moon Jae-in has arrived at Pyongyang International Airport for his third meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. A welcome ceremony will be held at the airport. 
DPRK's honor guards await ROK President Moon Jae-in to arrive at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on Sept.18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

DPRK's honor guards await ROK President Moon Jae-in to arrive at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on Sept.18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 7:52 a.m. BJT, September 18
ROK President Moon Jae-in departed on Tuesday to embark on a three-day trip to the DPRK.
This is Moon's first visit to the DPRK since he took office.  
00:45
Moon will meet DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and the two leaders will discuss ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, according to Yonhap news agency. 
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