North Korea agrees to dismantle nuclear complex if United States takes reciprocal action, South says

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have announced a sweeping set of agreements that include a promise by the North to "permanently" abolish its key missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts, and to close its main nuclear complex if the United States takes reciprocal action.

Speaking at a joint news conference following their summit talks in Pyongyang, Mr Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said they agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats".

Mr Moon said the North has agreed to permanently dismantle a missile engine test site and a launch pad in the presence of international experts, in what he described as a specific step toward denuclearisation.

Mr Kim said he will visit Seoul "in the near future", in what would be the first-ever visit to the South's capital by a North Korean leader, and the two leaders said they would make a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics together.

According a joint statement signed by the countries' defence chiefs, the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes.

They also agreed to establish a no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas, that will apply to planes, helicopters and drones.

Other agreements are aimed at removing some longstanding irritants from their relations — such as allowing more contact between families divided by the Korean War.

Moon also appeared to be making good on his proposals to help build up the North's infrastructure and open cross-border rail links.

The latest summit will be a litmus test for stalled negotiations on the North's nuclear program between Pyongyang and Washington, and for another meeting Mr Kim recently proposed to US President Donald Trump following their historic encounter in June in Singapore.

Mr Moon was seeking to engineer a proposal that combines a framework for the North's denuclearisation and a joint declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War.

Mr Kim pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" during his first encounter with Mr Moon, and at his summit with Mr Trump in June.

But discussions over how to implement the vague commitments have since faltered, with Washington demanding concrete action towards denuclearisation by North Korea before agreeing to a key goal of Pyongyang — declaring an end to the war.

North Korea is seeking relief from crippling international sanctions. It previously offered to stop nuclear and missile tests but did not allow international inspections for a dismantling of its only known nuclear site in May, drawing criticism that its action could not be verified and could be easily reversed.

AP/Reuters