Leaders worldwide hail historic peace talks on Korean Peninsula

Governments worldwide have been hailing apparent progress towards peace on the Korean Peninsula, after a rare summit Friday between the leaders of North and South Korea. As Alastair Wanklyn reports, the two sides spoke of reuniting families and getting rid of the North's nuclear weapons.

By Alastair Wanklyn

It was a rare sight: the leaders of North and South Korea holding hands and stepping across the border into each other's countries.

North Korean state media called the summit.a turning point in Korean history: Sixty-five years after they fought a war, North and South Korea pledging cooperation and a future free of nuclear weapons.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in also agreed to allow the Red Cross to work on reuniting families divided by the Korean War.

And they spoke of building new roads and railways across the border.

They gave no timetable for nuclear disarmament.

But the meeting appeared to lay groundwork for an upcoming summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, who hailed the summit's outcomes.

"A lot of very positive things happened over the past 24 hours" he said.

Some observers urged caution, noting North Korea has a history of reneging on promises. It is also accused of some of the world's worst abuses against its own citizens, including torture, murder and denial of freedom of religion.

Trump said Kim may now be offering change.

"I don't think he's playing. I don't think he's playing. It's never gone this far. I don't think it's ever had this enthusiasm for them wanting to make a deal" he said.

No date is set for the U.S.-North Korean summit, but Trump said the two sides are close to agreeing a venue for the meeting.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn's report