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| South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands in front of Freedom House at the truce village of Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone, Friday. / Korea Summit Press Pool |
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| / Korea Summit Press Pool |
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| Delegations led by Moon and Kim attend inter-Korean summit. / Korea Summit Press Pool |
By Kim Rahn
The leaders of the two Koreas shook hands Friday as they prepared for their historic meeting to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared from the Panmungak, a building on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjeom, at 9:27 a.m.
President Moon Jae-in was waiting for him in front of Freedom House, a building on the southern side, right behind the military demarcation line (MDL).
As Kim walked between buildings T2 and T3 ― meeting rooms of the Military Armistice Commission ― to the MDL, Moon walked toward the line and they shook hands with the line between them.
Kim then unexpectedly asked Moon to cross the MDL to the northern side, and the two, holding hands, briefly walked across the line.
Moon then escorted Kim to the southern side, as the summit venue is Peace House.
It was the first time a North Korean leader has set foot in the South since the Korean War (1950-53).
Moon and Kim had photos taken and two children offered flowers to Kim. The children are students at an elementary school in Daeseongdong Village, the only village within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in the South.
The leaders were escorted by South Korean traditional honor guards to a plaza between Peace House and Freedom House for the official welcoming ceremony that included inspection of the guards.
After the inspection, Moon introduced his aides, who would accompany him for the summit, to Kim. Kim then introduced his aides to Moon. They then had an unplanned photo session.
Moon and Kim walked into Peace House. Kim signed the visitors' book, in which he wrote: "A new history begins now. The era of peace stands at the starting point."
The two leaders had a photo session in front of a painting of Mount Bukhan. They then walked into the reception room.
The summit started at 10:15 a.m. Moon accompanied presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon. Kim sat with Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Kim Yo-jong, his sister and first vice department director of the committee.
Kim said he was attending the summit with the thinking that the two Koreas are at the starting line of a new history for peace and prosperity.
"I wish we can talk about pending issues openly and straightforwardly to make a good outcome," Kim said. "Rather than making the issue go back to the starting point and not carrying on agreements, I hope we can look forward, walk together and meet people's expectations."
He also talked about "Pyongyang naengmyeon" (cold noodles), a specialty of Pyongyang, which will be served at a dinner later in the day. On South Korea's request, North Korea brought a noodle-making machine and chef to the Panmunjeom.
"We brought Pyongyang naengmyeon from Pyongyang," Kim said, adding he hoped Moon would enjoy the dish.
"I'm saying in front of President Moon and reporters here that I'll talk with President Moon about what we have to talk frankly and seriously about and make a good outcome."
Moon, in response, said the whole world is paying attention to Panmunjeom.
"At the moment Kim crossed the MDL, Panmunjeom has become a symbol of peace, not a symbol of division anymore," Moon said. "Koreans and people all over the world have high expectations, and I express my respect for Kim's resolute decision to make this situation happen."
He suggested the two leaders reach an agreement and give a big present to the people of the world.
The first round of talks ended at around 11:55 a.m. and the two leaders had lunch separately, with Kim going back to the North for the separate meal.
