Korean leaders aim for formal end of war, target complete denuclearisation

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his North Korean leader Kim Jong Un  has come into an agreement to formally end the over sixty year old Korean War, which was never called off officially. Both leaders have signed the "Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula". Both leaders chatted privately for thirty minutes alongside full day of meetings between representatives of both the countries. 

Security first: When Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong Un came down the steps towards the inter-Korean border today he was escorted by a phalanx of bodyguards carefully chosen for their fitness, marksmanship, martial arts skills and even looks. Men in sharp suits and matching blue and white striped ties fanned out ahead of and around Kim as he approached the Military Demarcation Line for a historic handshake with his Southern counterpart Moon Jae-in.

The two are scheduled to plant a memorial tree at the border around 0430 GMT to kick off their second session of the summit. 

Kim Jong-un is now heading for lunch in a black limousine. The two leaders will have lunch separately, reports BBC

Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have closed the first round of summit talks, reports Reuters

Earlier this month, CIA Director Mike Pompeo had gone on a secret mission to North Korea and had a ‘a great meeting’ with Kim Jong Un

Top shots from the historic summit: In pics

Amid global media scrutiny, one thing to watch out would be Kim Jong-Un’s health. The Washington Post recently reported that North Korean leaders take a personal toilet on trips. Citing a former North Korean soldier who defected south, the Post says one reason for this is so no trace of his health status can be left behind.

Kim’s sister and close adviser Kim Yo Jong and the North's head of inter-Korean relations are with the North Korean leader on this historic meeting. While Moon is accompanied by his spy chief and chief of staff.

"I came here determined to send a starting signal at the threshold of a new history," Kim told Moon as the meeting began, promising a "frank, serious and honest mindset".

‘I am happy to meet you,’ Korean leaders reportedly said to each other.

The meeting, in the Peace House building on the southern side of the Demilitarised Zone that divides the two Koreas, is only the third summit since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Inside visuals of the meeting between North and South Korean leaders for summit talks on the North's nuclear weapons in Panmunjom

Panmunjom: Inside visuals of the meeting between North & South Korean leaders for summit talks on the North's nuclear weapons. #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/cz9r1t7Oyt

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2018

The North's nuclear arsenal will be high on the agenda at the talks.

Last year Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear blast, by far its most powerful to date, and launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland. Read full story here

This is the first time in 65 years that a leader from North has set foot in south. Here's the historic moment:

WATCH: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, crosses the southern border to meet rival Moon Jae-in for the summit on nuke crisis in Panmunjom. #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/hq58iYQcUz

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2018