CHINA/NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A South Korean official said Seoul could push for a more permanent peace agreement on the Korean Peninsula, potentially involving the U.S. and China, to replace the armistice that ended the Korean War. Such a move could pave the way for a deal to end the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear weapons. The comments from the senior security official on Wednesday 4-18-18] come as both sides finalize the agenda for a summit meeting on April 27 between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Seoul officials have said denuclearization will be a priority at the talks, but have disclosed few details on what Mr. Moon will offer, or suggest, to help convince Mr. Kim to give up his weapons. The summit precedes a planned meeting weeks later between Mr. Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. A meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un could be a diplomatic breakthrough, but both men are nothing if not unpredictable. But the South Korean security official said any conclusive peace deal involving the two Koreas would need input and backing from others—a likely reference to China and the U.S., the other main combatants in the 1950-53 conflict.”
–Andrew Jeong, “Seoul Sees Path for Peace Deal to Formally End Korean War,” The Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2018 6:37 am