This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7023079.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
South Korean leader enters north Korean leaders meet in Pyongyang
(about 2 hours 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. North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il has welcomed South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun as he arrived in Pyongyang for a historic summit.
His meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is only the second such meeting since the Korean war. Live television footage showed the two men shaking hands ahead of three days of talks in the North Korean capital.
President Roh said a "peace settlement together with economic development" would be his aim. The meeting between the two leaders is only the second such meeting in more than 50 years since the Korean war.
President Roh said that he was aiming for a "peace settlement together with economic development".
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 may pave the way for that historic step
Brief reunionsBrief 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, early on Tuesday 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.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 summitMixed 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 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 motorcadePresident 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 progressNuclear 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) and Kim Jong-il are holding three days of talks
"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.