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North and South come closer on Korean Peninsula

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North and South come closer on Korean Peninsula

Historic summit decides for complete denuclearisation and unification

In an unprecedented move in the recent world history two arch rivals have come together across the table to resolve their long lasting issues. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in have pledged to formally end the 1950s Korean War and pursue “complete denuclearisation” of the peninsula. The Summit took 11 years to bring the two leaders together. Earlier summit was held in 2007.

The two leaders signed a joint statement on Friday after the summit that saw Kim become the first North Korean leader to step into South Korea since the end of war in 1953. The peace talks were held in a demilitarized zone in Panmunjom village.

According to reports, a strictly choreographed day of talks and symbolic gestures momentarily gave way to some spontaneity when Kim asked his South Korean counterpart to reciprocate by briefly stepping into North Korea.

The signing of the declaration came after two rounds of talks between the leaders and a tree-planting ceremony.

According to the statement, the two leaders pledged to sign a peace treaty later this year and involve the United States and probably China in the process.

Kim and Moon also promised to pursue the end of nuclear weapons on the peninsula, though the text of the statement did not include specific measures or a timetable.

Kim Jong Un, speaking after signing the declaration said, “I feel that we are part of one family and both countries will have a new policy of cooperation. After years of disputes, we are here today to say that nothing will make us different again.”

South Korea’s President Moon Jae in praised Kim for freezing his country’s nuclear testing programme, saying it would be a “valuable beginning”.  He further said, “Kim Jong-un and I declare that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and a new age of peace has begun.”

As part of the agreement, the Koreas said they would refrain from the use of force and would deepen ties, working towards reunification. This is considered to be a major step forward for restoring peace and stop weapon race in the peninsula.

Under the ne scheme of things a communications post is to be established in Kaesong, North Korea while loudspeaker broadcasts and distribution of propaganda leaflets on each other side will end on May 1. Moon is due to visit the North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, in the coming months.

Meanwhile US President Donald Trump has appreciated the summit in his tweet post. He said, “After a furious year of missile launches and nuclear testing, a historic meeting between North and South Korea is now taking place. Good things are happening, but only time will tell!”

Read More: US, China welcome N Korea halt on Nuclear, Missile tests

Trump is scheduled to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sometime in late May or early June this year. He said on Friday there were now only “two or three sites” under consideration for the US-North Korea summit.

UN Secretary General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said “many around the world were moved by the powerful imagery of the two leaders coming together to advance harmony and peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He further said, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterras “salutes the courage and leadership that resulted in the important commitments and agreed actions”.

Russia, Japan and China have also appreciated the historic summit between the leaders of the two Koreas. Moscow called the meeting as a “very positive news”.

China’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it hoped all parties could maintain the momentum for dialogue and jointly promote the resolution process.

Read More: North and South Korean leaders to hold summit on April 27

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he expected North Korea to take concrete steps towards carrying out its promises. He added Japan was “absolutely not” being left out of the denuclearisation process. He said that he will keep close contact with the US and South Korea.

The summit concluded with a ceremony with live music and a video titled A New Spring Enjoyed Together, which was projected onto the Peace House in Panmunjom village.

Read More: North Korean Leader Kim meets China’s Xi in Beijing

At the end of the Summit North Korean leader boarded a black Mercedes Benz limousine that drove him and his entourage back to the Pyongyang.

India News

US reiterates its call for fair, transparent, legal process for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, speaks on Congress frozen accounts

The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.

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A day after India summoned an US diplomat over their remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US reiterated its call for fair, transparent, timely legal processes on Wednesday.

Responding to questions on India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that they will continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Notably, the meeting at the foreign ministry’s South Block office lasted nearly 40 minutes yesterday with India objecting strongly to the US remarks on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

Matthew Miller also responded to a question on the Congress party’s frozen bank accounts. The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. He added that the US encourages fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of the issues.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Earlier, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier stated that states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies, adding that it could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.

The Ministry further emphasized that India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. It mentioned that casting aspersions on India’s legal procedure is unwarranted.

The United State’s remarks followed days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. The Indian government labelled their remark as blatant interference in internal matters.

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5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

This is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

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Nearly five Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion during an attack on their convoy by a suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday. Reportedly, the suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers travelling from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack. As yet, none has claimed responsibility for the attack. Bisham Station House Officer (SHO) Bakht Zahir asserted that the incident was a suicide blast and the authorities concerned were collecting the evidence.

The Station House Officer further added that security arrangements were tightened at the spot and the bodies were being shifted to a hospital. He added that they will investigate from where and how the vehicle of a suicide bomber came and how it happened. Notably, this is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

Previously, two attacks hit an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan where China is investing billions in infrastructure projects. Several Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have for multiple years been working on hydroelectric projects as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in the western province of Khyber-Paktunkhwa.

Notably, Dasu is home to a significant dam project, has been a target of previous attacks. Earlier in 2021, the attack in Dasu resulted in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals, along with two Pakistani children. The incident occured when a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the Dasu Hydropower Project site was targeted.

There was confusion surrounding the nature of the attack initially, with some reports suggesting it was a bus accident. Nonetheless, subsequent investigations revealed that it was indeed a terrorist attack. The bus was hit by a blast, leading it to plunge into a ravine.

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US bridge collapses after being hit by ship

The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

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Major portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US collapsed on early Tuesday morning after it was hit by a large container ship. The incident occurred at nearly 1.30 am (US local time). The Baltimore City Fire department said the collapse is a mass casualty incident.

According to reports many vehicles fell into the river below. The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

It seems the vessel had hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in many places and plunge into the water. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner of the ship, and the manager, Synergy Marine Group, said it is a Singapore flagged ship Dali which collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined; the Dali has now mobilized its qualified individual Incident response service. It added that all crew members, including the 2 pilots who were aboard, have been accounted for and there are no reports of injuries.

The local traffic police said all lanes on both directions of the bridge have been closed and the traffic is being de-toured. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also declared a state of emergency after the collapse of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 1977, spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. It is named after the writer of the Star Spangled Banner.  

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