North Korea, South Korea and US look to reinvigorate talks

Matthew Bracco & Charles Bray
Staff Writers

April 27 marked a turning point in history: the long awaited meeting between polar opposites: North and South Korea.
This meeting marked a historical transformation for the Korean peninsula. President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea held the Inter-Korean Summit Meeting at the 'Peace House' in Panmunjom.

The two leaders came to a joint- conclusion that they needed to bring their division and confrontation to an end for the well being of both countries and their citizens. Both seek peaceful communications with each other, the citizens of either country weren’t aware of the extent of this meeting. Most of the conversation was kept classified; however, there were some public changes in which both leaders wanted to be in the forefront.

Furthermore, the public changes that the two leaders made included signing an historic agreement: the Panmunjom Declaration, which is a formal end to the Korean War. In addition, it also included the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which leads both countries to the start of a new era in terms of peace. South and North Korea have also agreed to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels in order to rejuvenate the sense of unity to portray their progress domestically, and globally.

Between North and South, the two sides will encourage cooperation by actively having various events between the countries on the dates that hold special meaning for both of them, an example of that would be on June 15, in which people from all levels, such as central and local governments, parliaments, political parties, and civil organizations, will be involved. On the international front, the two sides agreed to demonstrate their collective wisdom and talents by participating together in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games. After having made this promised meeting between North and South Korea it is amazing to see how much they’ve gotten done from just one meeting compared to many years of nothing being done.
Although the North and South have seemingly found their peace, the same cannot be said for the North’s relationship with the United States. The White House has just recently sent a letter canceling a  summit meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. However, the North continued to develop its relationship with the South, pursue a  summit with the US.

North Korea dispatched its top diplomat to New York for talks about the summit. He also delivered a letter to President Trump who said talks were back on after a two-hour meeting in the Oval Office.

Pre-Korean summit overtures could be harbingers of peace

Peter Thompson
Staff Writer

It has been 65 years since North Korean and Chinese troops crossed the 38th parallel to invade South Korea and drive out the UN from the peninsula, since then the two have formally been at war with truce in place. However, with the historic summit having taken place at the end of April, the North and South have agreed to formally end the Korean war in which tensions and provocations have flared on numerous occasions.
  "The two leaders declare before our people of 80 million and the entire world there will be no more war on the Korean peninsula and a new age of peace has begun," Declared President Moon of South Korea.
This language is stark compared to a few months ago when the threat of war lingered. The North has even dropped the demand to withdraw US troops from South Korea on the grounds that it was for the sake of US-Korean relations and not directed towards deterring the North.
  The inter-Korean summit now completed, Kim Jong Un is scheduled to meet the US president in person at the Demilitarized Zone towards late May or early June. There the two leaders will discuss the denuclearization of Korea and the conditions of peace in Northeast Asia. South Korea was not a signatory of the armistice that ended the Korean war so their inclusion in a peace treaty will be questioned. So far Beijing and Washington have expressed interest in modifying the 1953 Armistice into an official peace treaty. North Korea is beginning to react positively to the summit, recently Pyongyang moved its time in sync with Seoul and as a good gesture to the US has released three American captives.

You’re Invited to the 6th Annual Robert Nagg Memorial Game

Laura Nagg
Copy Editor

The 6th Annual Robert Nagg Memorial Game will take place on Sunday, Jun 3 from 4-8 p.m. at the New Hope-Solebury Stadium Field. The game is in honor of Robert Nagg, who was a student at NH-S and a member of the Boys Soccer team. After a courageous battle with brain cancer, Robert passed away in 2013 at the age of 17.

The Robert Nagg Fund and Memorial Game was created by fellow soccer player Jackson Vallely, NH-S Class of 2012. He wanted to create an event to honor Robert’s memory and love for soccer, while creating an opportunity for the community to support a fund for a new stadium field. The event organization was then passed on the Riley Smith, NH-S Class of 2016, and now is taken on by Robert’s younger brother, Davis Nagg. The game also serves as a fundraiser for the high school stadium improvement fund, which includes a turf field and/or the modernization of the snack shack.

This year the event will feature two games: the girls’ team at 4 p.m. and the boys’ at 6 p.m. The  current NHS soccer players will play against NHS alumni soccer players. If you are apart of either of these groups and would like to participate in the game, you can email your confirmation and graduation year to play in the game at robertnaggmemorialgame@gmail.com.

If you are not a soccer player for the girls or boys team but would like to still be involved, please come out to the game to support the players and the cause. Come to enjoy awesome food, great soccer, and the NH-S community! You can also support the event through donation. Checks can be payable to “Solebury Township” with the Robert Nagg Fund” mentioned in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Leigh Smith (6251 Upper York Rd., New Hope, PA 18938).