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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un embrace each other after their surprise summit at Tongilgak

On May 26, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held an unexpected meeting, representing their second summit in as many months. President Moon may be making a diplomatic attempt to salvage the North Korea-US summit that was originally scheduled for June 12 but cancelled the day before.

President Moon met with Kim at Tongilgak, a building on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom, for two hours, from 3 pm to 5 pm on May 26, according to a press release distributed by South Korean Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations Yoon Young-chan.

“The two leaders had an honest exchange of views with the aim of implementing the Apr. 27 Panmunjeom Declaration and enabling the North Korea-US Summit to be held successfully,” Yoon said in the press release. “Both sides have agreed that President Moon will personally announce the results of the meeting at 10 am tomorrow.”

Moon and Kim were accompanied at their meeting by Suh Hoon, director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, and Kim Yong-chol, director of the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers' Party.

It also appears that this surprise meeting may have been arranged via Moon and Kim’s hotline, which had not been used previously.

a building on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom

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