I offer my heartfelt congratulations and welcome the success of the historic North Korea-United States summit.

When I met with Chairman Kim Jong Un at House of Unification (Tongilgak) in Panmunjeom on May 26, and when I spoke over the phone with President Trump yesterday, I could cautiously predict the success of the summit. Seventy years of division and hostility, however, have cast a dark shadow that makes it difficult to believe what is actually taking place before our very eyes.

I pay my high compliments for the courage and determination of the two leaders, President Trump and Chairman Kim, not to settle for that outdated and familiar reality but to take a daring step towards change.

The June 12 Sentosa Agreement will be recorded as a historic event that has helped break down the last remaining Cold War legacy on earth.

It is a great victory achieved by both the United States and the two Koreas, and a huge step forward for people across the world who long for peace.

Once again, I would like to pay my respect to President Trump who achieved a feat that no one else has ever delivered.

Chairman Kim Jong Un will also be remembered as a leader who made a historic moment by taking the first bold step toward the world.

I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore and many other world leaders for the great efforts they have made in order to make the summit a success.

Building upon the agreement reached today, we will take a new path going forward. Leaving dark days of war and conflict behind, we will write a new chapter of peace and cooperation. We will be there together with North Korea along the way.

This is just a beginning and there may be many difficulties ahead, but we will never go back to the past again and never give up on this bold journey. History is a record of people who take action and rise to a challenge.

My Administration will spare no effort in cooperating with the United States, North Korea and the international community to ensure that the agreement can be implemented in its entirety.

I, as President of the Republic of Korea, promise to make all-out efforts to help establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and usher in a new era of co-existence and prosperity.