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South Korean leader enters north | South Korean leader enters north |
(about 1 hour later) | |
South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun has walked over the heavily fortified border into North Korea en route to a summit in Pyongyang. | South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun has walked over the heavily fortified border into North Korea en route to a summit in Pyongyang. |
His meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is only the second such meeting since the Korean war. | His meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is only the second such meeting since the Korean war. |
President Roh said a "peace settlement together with economic development" would be his aim. | President Roh said a "peace settlement together with economic development" would be his aim. |
The 1950-53 war between the two sides has never formally ended, but Seoul has promoted hopes for a permanent truce. | The 1950-53 war between the two sides has never formally ended, but Seoul has promoted hopes for a permanent truce. |
It says this summit, scheduled to last three days, may pave the way for that historic step. | It says this summit, scheduled to last three days, may pave the way for that historic step. |
Brief reunions | Brief reunions |
President Roh left the South Korean capital, Seoul, in a motorcade along with business leaders, bureaucrats, poets and clerics. | President Roh left the South Korean capital, Seoul, in a motorcade along with business leaders, bureaucrats, poets and clerics. |
The convoy stopped at the demilitarized zone to allow the president and his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, to cross into the north on foot. | |
Mixed feelings over summit | Mixed feelings over summit |
They stepped across a yellow plastic tape, printed with the words "peace" and "prosperity". | They stepped across a yellow plastic tape, printed with the words "peace" and "prosperity". |
"I do hope after my crossing that more people will follow suit," said President Roh at the border. | "I do hope after my crossing that more people will follow suit," said President Roh at the border. |
"This line will gradually be erased and the wall will fall." | "This line will gradually be erased and the wall will fall." |
The motorcade will now continue to Pyongyang | The motorcade will now continue to Pyongyang |
The two states' only other summit was held in Pyongyang in 2000. | The two states' only other summit was held in Pyongyang in 2000. |
At the time, Kim Jong-il promised to make the return journey to Seoul, but that has never happened. | At the time, Kim Jong-il promised to make the return journey to Seoul, but that has never happened. |
The first summit led to the former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his "sunshine policy" of rapprochement with the North. | The first summit led to the former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his "sunshine policy" of rapprochement with the North. |
President Roh left Seoul in a motorcade | |
Since then, rail and road links have been reconnected and families divided between the two countries have been granted reunions, if only briefly. | Since then, rail and road links have been reconnected and families divided between the two countries have been granted reunions, if only briefly. |
But critics say the South's attempts at friendship and large donations of aid have failed to break down the impoverished North's isolationism or improve its human rights record. | But critics say the South's attempts at friendship and large donations of aid have failed to break down the impoverished North's isolationism or improve its human rights record. |
Some observers doubt whether Kim Jong-il has any appetite for reconciliation, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. | Some observers doubt whether Kim Jong-il has any appetite for reconciliation, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. |
They believe he prefers to keep his military threat to coax further economic aid and other concessions from the nervous South, our correspondent says. | They believe he prefers to keep his military threat to coax further economic aid and other concessions from the nervous South, our correspondent says. |
Nuclear progress | Nuclear progress |
The conservative opposition in South Korea has warned Mr Roh against making any "naive" economic concessions just for the sake of an agreement. | The conservative opposition in South Korea has warned Mr Roh against making any "naive" economic concessions just for the sake of an agreement. |
President Roh (left) will meet Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang | President Roh (left) will meet Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang |
"They must know that an emotional approach to the North would bring on disasters," spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said. | "They must know that an emotional approach to the North would bring on disasters," spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said. |
One item not on the agenda is North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. | One item not on the agenda is North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. |
That is being left for ongoing multi-party talks, which made significant progress over the weekend. | That is being left for ongoing multi-party talks, which made significant progress over the weekend. |
A joint statement setting out the next step in the denuclearisation progress was agreed, and has been sent for approval to the six governments involved, including the two Koreas. | A joint statement setting out the next step in the denuclearisation progress was agreed, and has been sent for approval to the six governments involved, including the two Koreas. |