Kim Jong Un's Historic Meeting Was Watched All Over the World, Except in North Korea

A historic summit Friday between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in could be watched all over the world—except for North Korea.

Kim became the first North Korean leader to cross the heavily guarded demilitarized zone (DMZ) into South Korea, but the event was not broadcast in the North.

Instead of showing Moon and Kim discussing denuclearizing the peninsula, North Korean television displayed patriotic images and mountains, according to the BBC monitoring service. A documentary about Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's father, was also aired.

North Korea typically shies away from broadcasting live events both home and abroad. The country's newscast did not broadcast information about the summit to its viewers, but the state-controlled newspapers did mention that Kim had traveled to Panmunjom, the "Truce Village," for meetings, according to the BBC monitoring service.

It was at this site along the DMZ that the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. The agreement ended the active fighting, but never officially ended the war. In their meeting Friday, the two leaders agreed to work toward ending the war.

"A new history begins now. At the starting point of history and the era of peace," wrote Kim in a guest book at the site.

The two leaders signed a declaration that said they would work to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.

"South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," read part of the declaration.

Kim last year tested a nuclear bomb and demonstrated the ability to strike almost anywhere in the world with a long-range ballistic missile. The leader has since executed a diplomatic about-face, beginning with participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Kim's overtures even extended to the U.S. despite a history of heated rhetoric with President Donald Trump. The two are expected to meet in the near future.

Trump, as he often does, took to Twitter to celebrate the meeting.

KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2018
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for photographs after signing the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula during the Inter-Korean Summit at... Korea Summit Press Pool/GETTY

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