South Korean president heads north

Last Modified: 02 Oct 2007
By: Lindsey Hilsum

Roh Moo-hyun says his first trip to the communist North Korea is a chance to make lasting peace between the two states.

North and South Korea are still officially at war, but today the South Korean president did what none of his predecessors had ever done before and crossed the border by foot for a historic peace summit.

A people divided

'A wall that has divided our people for half a century.'

That was how the South Korean president described the demarcation line between his country and North Korea as he crossed the border to attend a rare meeting with his counterpart in Pyongyang.

It was only the second time in 50 years that the leaders of the two countries have met. The war between the two sides in the 1950s has never formally ended.

Crossing the divide the South Korean president and his wife walked over the yellow line which separates south from north.

Never before has a South Korean president been greeted by the North Korean military, and it's only the second time one has visited the north since the Korean War more than 50 years ago.

Second time lucky?

Accompanied by North Korean officials, he sped on to the capital, Pyongyang where to everyone's surprise, the distinctive figure of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il appeared wearing his customary platform shoes - so no-one could tell who was the shortest.

Women in traditional dress waved the national flower named, inevitably, the Kimjongilia.

Never before has a South Korean president been greeted by the North Korean military, and it's only the second time one has visited the north since the Korean War more than 50 years ago.

No agenda

There is no agenda for the summit, but the north is hoping for more aid; its GDP is just 3 per cent that of the south.

It is not clear what the South wants. President Roh has only five months left in office and he's not really in a position to push for further nuclear disarmament.

On North Korean television, the summit was trumpeted as a triumph for the Dear Leader.

The first meeting started this afternoon, although the North Korean leader was not present.

Koreans' hope

North Korea is largely cut off from the world. Cell phones are banned and the internet strictly controlled, but for this occasion the southern delegation is being allowed 30 handsets and 12 internet lines.

In the South Korean capital, Seoul, some demonstrated against the summit, saying it will only bolster President Kim.

But most South Koreans hope it will bring the divided peninsula closer to a peace treaty and reunification.