Summary

  • The leaders of North and South Korea have pledged that their countries will never fight another war

  • Kim Jong-un crossed into the South to meet his counterpart Moon Jae-in

  • The pair signed a joint statement agreeing to pursue "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula"

  • The two men walked and talked together after their first formal meeting

  • Many analysts remain sceptical about the North's apparent enthusiasm for engagement

  1. A sister celebritypublished at 04:41 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. South Korea's take on the morningpublished at 04:40 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This media briefing came from Yoon Young-chan, a senior public communications secretary for Moon Jae-in. He's given us a comprehensive South Korean take on the talks so far.

    Key points:

    • That unexpected step by Mr Moon into North Korea was not planned in advance (this is becoming a talking point on Korean social media).
    • Mr Kim invited Mr Moon to North Korea, and said he would receive the same welcome he did.
    • Mr Kim said his short walk over the border "took more than 10 years" but they should meet more often from now on.
    • "Let's never go back to starting point. Let's create a better world - I will do my best" - Mr Kim to Mr Moon.
    • Moon Jae-in said the Korean people should be able to take the lead for other countries to follow.
    Kim and MoonImage source, EPA
  3. Traffic concerns in North Koreapublished at 04:29 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Mr Kim, we're told, is concerned that Mr Moon might encounter bad traffic conditions if he travels to the North. When relations improve, he says, the two sides can join up their roads.

    Also on roads, Mr Moon expressed his sadness over a recent bus crash in North Korea, which killed 32 Chinese tourists. That prompted some rare media coverage in the North.

  4. South Korea briefingpublished at 04:22 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    South Korea officials are giving the media a rundown on what happened this morning.

    Like all good visits, the conversation started with the leaders sharing details of their journey this morning and how early they had to get up.

    Mr Kim, apparently, told Mr Moon he would make sure he wasn't woken up so early in the future by North Korean missile tests.

  5. The events so farpublished at 04:19 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Moon and Kim hold hands as they walk over the borderImage source, AFP

    Hello, if you're just joining our live coverage of a hugely significant day on the Korean peninsula. The Korean leaders are taking a lunch break, so there's time for a recap.

    • North Korea's Kim Jong-un has made history by stepping onto South Korea territory
    • He was met at the border by South Korea's Moon Jae-in, with smiles and many handshakes
    • In an unexpected move, Mr Moon also briefly stepped over into North Korea for a handshake
    • After a ceremonial welcome, they had a private meeting, then a televised conversation.
    • Both leaders - technically still at war - welcomed the developments and said they wanted to move their relationship forward.
    • We don't yet know what will be agreed today, nor how lasting an impact it will have.
    • Read more: What to to expect from the talks

  6. 'Midday cardio' for the bodyguardspublished at 04:04 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  7. Off for lunch on both sides of the borderpublished at 04:01 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  8. Behind closed doorspublished at 03:55 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    The leaders have been in their private chats for over an hour now. What have they been talking about? The world is dying to know. They're due a break for lunch soon - which will be eaten separately on their own sides. Fear not - barring major incidents, they'll be eating dinner together later on.

    Kim and Moon in the Peace HouseImage source, AFP
  9. The whole kerfuffle in 300 wordspublished at 03:43 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Confused by the blow-by-blow coverage? Take a step back and catch up on the North Korea crisis in a nutshell. Well, in 300 words., external

  10. Kim's writing in the bookpublished at 03:42 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  11. Watching from prisonpublished at 03:38 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Interesting insight from AFP reporter Sunghee Hwang.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  12. Watching in Seoulpublished at 03:38 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Pictures of South Koreans watching news of North Korea on TV are usually the only images we have available to illustrate such stories. Today is the exception as it's all been televised live and the world's media are there.

    But for nostalgia's sake, here are some South Koreans watching events on big screens.

    Commuters watch on a big screen in Seoul's train stationImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Commuters watch on a big screen in Seoul's train station

    Commuters watch on a big screen in Seoul's train stationImage source, EPA
    People wave flags in front of a TV screen in Paju, South KoreaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Flag-waving and cheering in Paju.

    People watch TV screen in SeoulImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    An intriguing mix of expressions on these faces in Seoul station.

    People watch TV screen in Seoul stationImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The gentleman on the right here must remember the war. Many of his generation have family members stuck in North Korea.

  13. More journos than citizens?published at 03:37 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  14. That moment againpublished at 03:37 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    In case you missed it, here's the moment Mr Moon and Mr Kim shook hands at the border.

    Media caption,

    Kim Jong-un crosses Korean border for summit

  15. Stocks say things are looking uppublished at 03:28 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Want more fuel for speculation on how the summit will go? OK let's look at South Korean shares. Seoul's Kospi index is moving about 1% higher and it's been on an upward trend for the past days.

    And yes, most pundits are pinning this on optimism around the summit.

    North Korean stocks meanwhile... OK just kidding. Pyonyang does not have a stock exchange, there's no place for that in old school communism.

  16. North Korea's first ladypublished at 03:18 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Kim Jong-un with his wifeImage source, AFP

    At both the first two inter-Korean summits, the wives of the two sides' leaders were nowhere to be seen.

    But North Korea appears to be moving Kim Jong-un's wife Ri Sol-ju into a more public position, and there has been speculation she might be part of the summit this time.

    We haven't seen her so far but some reports suggest the first lady of the North might turn up for the big dinner later.

  17. Major political gamble?published at 03:15 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    The US/NK summit is still far from certain. The date, agenda and venue are all mere speculation. So whether or not the next handshake will be between Mr Trump and Mr Kim might well depend on the outcome of today.

    The BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul wrote this comprehensive piece as news of these talks emerged a few weeks ago on how talking to Kim could be, for both Trump and Moon, the political gamble of the century.

  18. Handshakes past, present, futurepublished at 03:14 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong-unImage source, EPA

    One goal of those historic talks will be to prepare for the even more historic (yes!) talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

    Just hours before today's meeting got under way, the White House chose its moment to release pictures of Mike Pompeo - then-CIA chief and now secretary of state - meeting the North Korean leader several weeks ago.

  19. Disinfecting air, chairs and guestbookpublished at 03:11 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post