President Moon Jae-in says South Korea will cooperate with the U.S. and Japan to bring an official end to the Korean War. 

Moon made the remark during telephone talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, answering Abe’s question on speculation the two Koreas will declare an end to the Korean War or replace the armistice agreement with a peace treaty during the upcoming inter-Korean summit. 

Moon said such a declaration cannot be made through inter-Korean dialogue alone, and should at least be a tripartite agreement, involving the U.S., adding he will closely cooperate with the U.S. and stay in close contact with Abe as well. 

Presidential Spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said that during Moon's 40-minute talks with Abe, the South Korean leader said that a successful inter-Korean summit will significantly boost the chances of a successful U.S.-North Korea summit and help the normalization of the Japan-North Korea relationship as well. He said the success of the summits will create momentum to fundamentally solve various issues between North Korea and Japan. 

When Moon raised the possibility of a summit between North Korea and Japan, Abe positively responded, saying “natural dialogue” will become possible if the inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea summits go well. 

Abe noted the two upcoming summits will be regarded as a success if they are able to address the North's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s as well as Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile issues, adding then will Tokyo be able to normalize ties with the North.  

Briefing on the outcome of his recent summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Abe said Trump promised to take up the abduction issue during his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, urging Moon to do the same on Friday during his summit with Kim.  

In response, Moon said he has already raised the issue with the North and will do it again when he speaks with Kim, adding he will tell the North Korean leader that solving the issue will help establish peace in Northeast Asia. 

Moon also said that after the inter-Korean summit he will call Abe to brief him on its outcomes. 

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