Kim Jong-un and South Korean Parliament Chairman Exchange Handshake in Landmark Meeting
Seoul, south Korea – In a surprising and possibly meaningful advancement, north Korean leader Kim Jong-un shook hands with South Korean Parliament Chairman Kim Jin-pyo during a meeting held Tuesday, marking a rare direct interaction between the leaders of the two Koreas. The gesture, described as “very remarkable” by a spokesperson for the South Korean delegation, signals a possible thaw in relations following a period of heightened tensions.
The meeting took place as part of a broader visit by a South Korean delegation to Pyongyang, responding to an invitation from Kim Jong-un. It comes amid renewed calls from both South Korean President Lee myung-bak and North Korea to resume inter-Korean dialogue. Previous attempts at rapprochement from South Korea have, until now, gone unanswered by North Korea. This meeting represents a potential turning point, offering a glimmer of hope for de-escalation and renewed communication on the Korean Peninsula, wich remains technically at war decades after the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty.
Recent months have seen fluctuating tensions between the two countries. A period of optimism emerged in early August when both North and South korea removed loudspeakers used for propaganda broadcasts along their shared border. However, tensions escalated again at the end of August following a North Korean missile test, which occurred while South Korea and the United States conducted joint military exercises. North Korea labeled South Korea’s warning shots fired after North Korean soldiers crossed the demilitarized zone a “serious provocation.”
The handshake and subsequent meeting are particularly noteworthy given South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung’s campaign promise to reduce tensions with the North. The South Korean delegation’s visit and Kim Jong-un’s willingness to meet with its chairman suggest a potential willingness to explore avenues for dialogue and cooperation.
