Celebrating One Year of a ‘Paradoxical’ Summit
Seoul is gearing up to mark the first birthday of a landmark meeting between President Moon Jae‑in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It’s a bit of a bittersweet occasion, though: while South Korea plans a celebratory ceremony this weekend in the historic Panmunjom area, Pyongyang’s participation remains as uncertain as a fortune cookie’s prediction.
Recapping the 2022 “Miracle”
- April 27, 2022 – The two leaders met for the first time face‑to‑face inside the Demilitarised Zone, a spot that’s usually nothing more than a silent meeting ground.
- April 27, 2022 – Their meeting set off a chain‑reaction: a historic sit‑down between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore just a few months later.
- February 2023 – Another hug-and-snuzzle showdown in Hanoi ended with a no‑deal situation, leaving the world (and the north) slightly less hopeful.
One Year Later: The Status of Denuclearisation
Fast forward to today, and the North’s plan to shut down its nuclear arsenal remains “On Track” for the 12th year of waiting. The dusty promises have yet to materialise, and Washington and Pyongyang are more stuck in a negotiation dead‑lock than a stubborn lunch order in a Korean restaurant.
Moon’s Diplomatic Micromanagement
President Moon has been the earnest matchmaker, trying to keep the diplomatic tent from collapsing. However, the North has largely hung up the phone, barely answering back. Since the Hanoi summit, the North hasn’t shown up for any of the eight weekly liaison meetings in Kaesong or the planned DMZ digging projects.
Panmunjom Celebration: Will Kim Join?
Seoul’s unification ministry says it will hold a ceremony on Saturday at Panmunjom – the same spot where Moon and Kim left fans with wide smiles and “brotherly” kisses. The voice from the ministry Lee Sang‑min added that they will “keep the North in the loop” and might give more info later.
Exchange Between Seoul and Pyongyang – When Communication Fizzled
The two countries’ interactions have shied away from the sense of camaraderie that flashed in the Singapore summit. In a recent speech to their rubber‑stamp parliament, Kim criticized South Korea’s “interfering” role, saying it should not act as a “mediator” between the U.S. and the North.
So, as the anniversary countdown ticks on, watch for whether Pyongyang will show up in the under‑world of diplomatic meetings—or stick around watching reality shows from afar.
