Our top story this morning...<br />President Moon met with his counterpart from New Zealand this morning, where the two leaders vowed to expand cooperation between the two countries. <br />It was the final leg of the South Korean President's 8-day tour... to the Czech Republic, Argentina, and New Zealand. <br />Our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun starts us off. <br />Trade. Defense. New Industry. And Antarctic Research.<br />These are the areas - according to President Moon Jae-in - where Seoul and Wellington have agreed to further boost cooperation... in order to enhance their 56-year-long bilateral relationship.<br />The summit meeting between President Moon and Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, took place on Tuesday Morning local time. <br />During which, the South Korean President noted that New Zealand is not <br />only an important partner for the Moon administration's "New Southern Policy," but a country that shares a common goal with South Korea.<br /><br />"Prime Minister Arden and I share a common political philosophy of pursuing inclusive growth and sustainable development. I look forward to working alongside the New Zealand Prime Minister to develop our relationship in a more mutually beneficial and future-oriented manner."<br /><br />During their meeting, the two leaders agreed that the free trade agreement between Korea and New Zealand, which took effect in 2015, has become a solid foundation to promote trade and investment between the two countries,... and pledged to continue such cooperation especially by synergizing the strengths of both countries - New Zealand's agriculture and South Korea's infrastructure construction technology.<br />Another technological collaboration will take place in Antarctic research fusing New Zealand's vast experience as the original signee of the Antarctic Treaty and state-of-the-art research technologies developed by South Korea.<br />The leaders also welcomed the scheduled launch of New Zealand's new South Korea-made military supply ship in 2019,... and discussed ways to further expand the countries' people-to-people exchanges.<br />During the joint press conference, President Moon and Prime Minister Arden confirmed New Zealand's support for South Korea's efforts to establish peace on the Peninsula.<br />When asked about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's proposed visit to Seoul,... President Moon insisted there is a possibility that it to take place within the year.<br />He emphasized, however, what's more important than whether the visit will happen within the year or not, is to realize Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul may lead to greater progress on North Korea's denuclearization.<br />Hwang Hojun, Arirang News. <br />
