MANILA— The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Tuesday welcomed the successful conclusion of the landmark summit between US President Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.
“While mindful of the many challenges that still lay ahead on the road to achieving lasting peace in the Korean Peninsula, the first ever face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries underscores the importance and value of dialogue and diplomacy in seeking resolution to outstanding issues among all concerned parties,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.
Cayetano said the government hopes that the momentum set in Singapore will create concrete actions such as the denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula that would result to lasting peace, stability and security in the region.
“The Philippines stands ready to contribute to the realization of these goals,” said the official.
During the US-DPRK Summit, Trump and Kim had an in-depth, and “sincere exchange of opinions” on the establishment of new US-DPRK relations and the building of a “lasting and robust” peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders then signed a joint statement.
Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK.
Reaffirming the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, Kim, for his part, committed to work towards the complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula.
Among others, the two states also committed to the recovery of prisoners of war or those missing in action’s remains during the 1950-1953 Korean War, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.
Recognizing the summit, a first in history as an epochal event overcoming years of tensions and hostilities between the two countries, both leaders vowed to implement “fully and expeditiously” the four commitments made in the joint statement. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
