Second summit begins as Korean leaders meet in Pyongyang

Posted on : 2007-10-03 10:28 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
First day of 2007 inter-Korean summit draws comparisons with that of 2000

PYONGYANG - Yesterday, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun stepped into history as the first man to walk across the military demarcation line dividing North and Sout Korea and only the second to hold a summit with the North’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il. Though the North pulled out all the stops for Roh’s arrival, lining the streets of Pyongyang dressed in colorful hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, waving flowers and cheering, the second inter-Korean summit has been far less shocking and impressive when compared with the historic first summit between former President Kim Dae-jung and his North Korean counterpart in 2000.

The level of ceremony in North Korean leader Kim’s reception of President Roh Moo-hyun at the start of the second summit was lower than that of the previous summit. In 2000, Chairman Kim showed up at Sunan Airport in Pyongyang to greet former President Kim, but this time the meeting, which was itself a surpise as it had not been known whether he would appear, was held at the April 25 Hall of Culture. In addition, Roh was greeted by different people in different places. When Roh entered North Korea after crossing the Military Demarcation Line on foot, Choi Seung-chul, deputy chief of the United Front Department, was waiting for him, while Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, known as the ceremonial head of the state, greeted Roh when he arrived at the People’s Palace of Culture.

Following the welcome ceremony, Kim Young-nam, the North’s number two man, guided Roh, First Lady Kwon Yang-suk and the South’s official attendants, to Paekhwawon State Guest House, the official accommodations for Roh. During the 2000 summit with Roh’s predecessor, the leaders of the two Koreas traveled to the Paekhwawon State Guest House in a limousine. The delegation from the South moved in small groups because Roh and his entourage traveled to North Korea overland.

North Korea’s welcome to Roh and his entourage was heartfelt. The fervent welcome mood showed by Pyongyang citizens has been almost same with that of the first summit.

It is rare for a foreign head of state to travel in a motorcade in an open limousine in downtown Pyongyang. During the first summit, former President Kim could not express his gratitude to the welcoming crowd on the sidewalk because he did not ride in an open limousine and Kim has expressed his regret about this. It was in part for this reason that South Korea pressed the North to allow Roh and his motorcade to travel along the main street of Pyongyang and the North conceded.

After arriving at the People’s Palace of Culture around 11:40 a.m., President Roh and Chairman Kim of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly rode side by side in an open limousine. They received an enthusiastic reception from residents of the North Korean capital. The motorcade continued for about 20 minutes in the six-kilometer, six-lane route from the People’s Palace of Culture near the Jung district to the April 25 Hall of Culture in the Daeseong district.

A North Korean official said, “The citizens of Pyongyang sincerely welcome President Roh and his entourage. It is historic to hold a joint South-North motorcade in downtown Pyongyang.”

Another official remarked, “It is rare that a foreign head of state visiting North Korea, except for leaders from China, received a welcome ceremony and that his motorcade traveled in downtown Pyongyang. These things were possible because President Roh traveled to North Korea overland.”

It was a remarkable sight to see the presidential vehicle parading down the Pyongyang streets while flying the South Korean national flag. Hundreds and thousands of Pyongyang citizens shouted “Manse!” (long life), “reunification of the fatherland” and “welcome,” while waving bunches of pink, purple and red paper flowers. Some women were seen in tears. For the previous summit, a similar number of North Korean residents came to the streets to receive the former South Korean leader.

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