[Joint Press Corps]
SEOUL -- South Korean and North Korean leaders vowed to produce good results at their historic summit Friday after setting a milestone in inter-Korean relations in the truce village of Panmunjom, a symbol of division and cold-war confrontation for more than six decades.
The summit began when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un turned up in Panmunjom and shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in across a concrete curb that serves as the borderline in the joint security area.
"It is good to see you," Kim said, revealing his calculated confidence with broad smiles. "I cannot stop my excitement as we meet here at such a historical place. Also, it is very moving that you, Mr. President, have come to Panmunjom, the demarcation line, to greet me."
In a symbolic move which was not pre-arranged, Kim invited Moon to cross the border together hand in hand. Moon described his encounter with Kim in Panmunjom, which symbolizes decades of confrontation and vision, as a "historic" moment.
The historic meeting took place in a four-meter-wide pathway between two blue buildings which have been used for military talks between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC) since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice with no peace treaty signed.
When the two leaders walked down together to inspect a South Korean military honor guard, Kim, clad in a black Mao-style suit, made another impromptu suggestion for a group photo with Moon and all their accompanying delegates.
In his opening speech at the conference room, the young North Korean leader continued his peace drive, saying he is ready to produce good results with a frank, sincere and honest attitude. "I came here with a determined mindset of firing a signal flare signaling the beginning of our new history," he said.
Moon praised Kim for making a bold decision to become the first North Korean leader to cross the border for the summit. "Chairman Kim Jong-un became the symbol of peace, not the symbol of division, the moment you crossed the military demarcation line," he said.
After a morning session, Kim crossed the border back to the northern side for a lunch break.
The summit followed Kim's sudden peace overture that sparked a flurry of inter-Korean dialogue and exchanges. Pyongyang sent a delegation to the Winter Olympics in February and ceased nuclear and ballistic missile tests. A direct hotline was set up between Moon and Kim, signaling an era of dialogue that would end the absence of high-level communication across the heavily armed border.
-
- Lim Chang-won Reporter
- email : cwlim34@ajunews.com
