Korea nations agree to push for talks to end war

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in embraced each other after signing on a joint statement at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone Friday, April 27, 2018.

Both leaders say they will jointly push for talks with the United State and also potentially China to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War, which stopped in an armistice and left the Koreas still technically at war.

Previous inter-Korean agreements have included similar pledges, but were later abandoned after the North resorted to nuclear and missile tests and the South elected more conservative presidents.

Following Friday's summit, Kim said the two leaders had agreed to work to prevent a repeat of the region's "unfortunate history" in which progress had "fizzled out".

He added, "There may be backlash, hardship and frustration.A victory cannot be achieved without pain."

The two countries have also "agreed to actively seek the support and co-operation of the international community" to reach this goal, the joint statement says.

China later praised the political determination and courage of both leaders. A statement from its foreign ministry said it hoped the momentum could be maintained.

US President Donald Trump also welcomed the news, tweeting that "good things are happening".

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