Photo: 
AFP
Planting for peace: the Koreas

Today the leaders of North and South Korea met for talks on the southern side of Panmunjom, the “truce village” on the shared border. The meeting, the first to include footfall on both sides of the demilitarised zone, was freighted with expectations. In terms of pomp, it did not disappoint: the leaders inspected a colourful honour guard and planted a tree with soil from their respective countries. For a time, they even held hands. But substantive results were few. The two leaders declared intentions for a “permanent peace regime”, and reiterated their commitment to a nuclear-free peninsula—but without specifying concrete steps towards that goal (and raising questions about the “nuclear umbrella” over the South that will no doubt trouble allies including America). Such progress will probably be enough to tempt President Donald Trump to the table with Mr Kim next month, a key aim for both Koreas. But how long will the happy mood last?

Apr 27th 2018
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