World

S. Korea leader sees more obstacles ahead to disarm N. Korea

08 of March 2018

Visitors pose in front of ribbons placed on a barbed wire fence with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean envoys marked the first time South Korean officials have met with the young North Korean leader in person since he took power after his dictator father's death in late 2011. It's the latest sign that the Koreas are trying to mend ties after one of the tensest years in a region that seems to be permanently on edge. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon),Visitors pose in front of ribbons placed on a barbed wire fence with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean envoys marked the first time South Korean officials have met with the young North Korean leader in person since he took power after his dictator father's death in late 2011. It's the latest sign that the Koreas are trying to mend ties after one of the tensest years in a region that seems to be permanently on edge. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's president says many "critical moments" lie ahead to end the nuclear crisis despite North Korea's recent outreach. President Moon Jae-in spoke before two senior Seoul officials head to the United States to brief officials there about their recent visit to North Korea. The Seoul officials said North Korea offered talks with the United States over normalizing ties and denuclearizing the peninsula. Some experts question its sincerity.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president says many “critical moments” still lie ahead to end the nuclear crisis despite North Korea’s recent outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon Jae-in spoke on Thursday morning before two senior Seoul officials were to head to the United States to brief officials about the outcome of their recent visit to North Korea.

The Seoul officials said North Korea offered talks with the United States over normalizing ties and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Seoul said the North also agreed to suspend nuclear and missile tests during such future talks.

Some experts question how sincere North Korea is about its reported offers.

Moon says there are “many critical moments that we still have to go through before reaching the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a permanent peace.”