Moon calls for the ending of division of two Koreas

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Republic of Korea's (ROK) President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that "true liberation" can only be achieved when the North (DPRK) and the South (ROK) establish a lasting peace and economic community, calling for transport, energy and economic cooperation with the DPRK, Yonhap reported.

Moon made the remarks at a ceremony marking Korea's independence from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule 73 years ago.

Moon said economic cooperation and the free movement of people are cornerstones for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia.

President Moon Jae-in attends a ceremony to mark the National Day to Honor Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims, August 14, 2018. /Blue House Photo

"We must overcome such a division for our survival and development. Even though a political unification may be a long way from here, establishing peace between the South (ROK) and the North (DPRK) and freely visiting each other, and forming a joint economic community is true liberation to us," the president said in a televised speech.

The president said the two sides were already moving toward peace, noting the countries have halted their hostile acts under an agreement reached at the high-profile summit with Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on April 27.

Speaking of the highly anticipated third summit, which is to be held in Pyongyang late September, Moon said he would seek to deepen trust with Pyongyang, while pushing for a denuclearization dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.

He also stressed that the improved inter-Korean ties are not a byproduct of the enhanced DPRK-US relations, but a driving force that promotes the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Yoo Ki-jin, 93, leaves with Red Cross officers after he fills out application forms to reunite with his family members living in the DPRK, at ROK's Red Cross headquarters in Seoul, June 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

China on Wednesday welcomed the upcoming third summit.

China appreciates the two countries' efforts in holding the summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.

"We hope the Pyongyang summit will go smoothly and achieve positive results, which we believe will help promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the political settlement process of the issue," said Lu.