By the Gazette Editorial Board The world is holding its breath as Seoul, in collaboration with Washington and Pyongyang, accelerates preparations for holding the first ever meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Obviously, Trump and Kim, who have built a kind of chemistry between them catalysed by the exchange of funny personal remarks, will find that a single round of talks is not enough.Both will then promise each other to meet again and again. And there is a high probability that Kim will invite Trump to resume their talks in Pyongyang and the US President will appreciate and accept the invitation. Seoul has hopes that a series of historical Trump-Kim talks will eventually lead to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Seoul's optimism seems to be based on positive signs the North Korean leader has given about his forthcoming meeting with the US President. North Korea's Kim has revealed his willingness to abandon his nuclear programme. Denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula would end a nightmare that has haunted the region and the world for decades. Removing the nuclear threat from the Korean peninsula would also help the regional partners lay strong foundations for stability and a lasting peace. North Korea will undoubtedly be the biggest winner. South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Yeocheol Yoon said that a positive outcome of a Trump-Kim meeting would definitely encourage Washington and Seoul to discuss lifting international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang. The US and South Korea are keen to help North Korea to become integrated in the international community and contribute to laying the foundations of prosperity and stability in the entire region and across the world as well. Regional powers are also sharing this attitude towards their neighbours in the northern part of the Korean peninsula. The ball is now, however, in the North Korean court. Kim Jong-un has a unique and precious opportunity to establish himself, regionally and internationally, as a peace-loving leader. Defusing the decades-long tension in the Korean peninsula and ending the nuclear threat would help put out raging fires in different parts of the world. And for understandable reasons, the anti-terror global war would be given a big boost. It must be said that South Korean President Moon Jae-in made the biggest leap towards peace and stability in the Korean peninsula when he invited North Korean athletes to take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Credit should also be given to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un for promptly – and cordially – appreciated the invitation.
