Korean leaders take historic steps toward denuclearization, accord

The leaders of North and South Korea vowed Friday to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons and start a "new era of peace" after a summit in which Kim Jong Un became the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War ended in 1953.Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said they had "sincere, candid" talks and would do everything in their power to denuclearize the region, although the rival nations provided few details over how denuclearization would be achieved. 

The leaders said they hoped to declare an official conclusion to their countries' decades-long war by the end of this year. An armistice was signed that stopped the fighting between North and South Korea, but not a peace treaty.

"South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea, that are the source of military tension and conflict," a joint statement said. 

The leaders said they would work to bring an end to the Korean War by pursuing talks with the United States and possibly China, which were signatories to the armistice.