Reactions are pouring in after the historic summit between North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.
In a joint declaration on Tuesday, the US committed to provide security guarantees to its old enemy while North Korea “commits to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula”.
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Veterans of Korean War hope Trump-Kim summit brings peace
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The countries also committed to pursuing better bilateral relations. The two have been bitter rivals since the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, which divided the Korean Peninsula.
Washington has been South Korea’s biggest ally and arms supplier since, and continues to operate bases in the country.
The reaction from Seoul was one of uncertainty, especially over remarks made by the US president during the summit in which he said he would put an end to joint military exercises with the South Koreans.
“At this point, we need to find out the precise meaning or intentions of President Trump’s remarks,” a spokesman for the South Korean presidential office said.
Here’s how others reacted:
Russia
Russia’s Foreign Ministry praised Trump’s move to end war games with South Korea, saying it was necessary to stop provocative actions to ease tensions on the peninsula.
It also said that it was willing to help implement the deal and work towards denuclearisation of the peninsula.
“Of course the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Japan
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday welcomed the agreement as a “first step” towards denuclearisation but said more needed to be done.
“I want to hear the details by phone (from Trump). I will continue aiming to resolve concerns such as the abduction, nuclear and missile issues,” Abe said.
China
China, North Korea’s biggest ally, has responded to the meeting between the two leaders with the suggestion that sanctions against Pyongyang could be lifted.
“The UN Security Council resolutions that have been passed say that if North Korea respects and acts in accordance with the resolutions, then sanction measures can be adjusted, including to pause or remove the relevant sanctions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing.
Iran
Tehran urged North Korea to proceed with caution after its recent experience with its own nuclear deal with the US.
Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, which was signed under his predecessor, in May.
Bahram Ghasemi, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said the North Koreans should enter into talks with “awareness”.
United Nations
Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, called on the international community to offer support on carrying out the agreement on steps toward denuclearisation between the United States and North Korea.
“Implementing today’s and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies