By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Government officials do not rule out the possibility that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may welcome President Roh Moo-hyun at the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on Oct. 2 before their summit in Pyongyang until Oct. 4.
The possibility emerged as the South and North reached an agreement on Sunday that Roh would walk across the inter-Korean border on his way to the North Korean capital with his wife Kwon Yang-suk.
``We cannot totally rule out the possibility of the North Korean leader's surprise visit to northward of the MDL,'' a Roh's aide said, ``Nobody knows when and where the two leaders will meet for the first time during the three days.''
He said there is nothing that has ``zero'' possibility, adding it depends on Kim's willingness.
Another presidential aide said, ``Should they meet at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), no event over the three days will be a more eye-catching one than such a meeting.''
But they said for Kim the North's security issue would be the biggest hurdle to realize the historic scenario.
A presidential spokesman said the scenario did not include the details discussed between the two Koreas, adding, ``The feasibility is quite low. The Security issue could far aggravate North Korean officials under that particular scenario.''
He said there is a possibility that ranking officials from Gaeseong City or South Hwanghae Province will welcome the President at the northern side of the MDL.
At the DMZ, officials said, Roh is expected to deliver a special message to South and North Koreans.
He will leave Seoul around 8 a.m. and arrive at the southern side of the MDL around 9 a.m.
After walking about across the DMZ, he will be driven to Pyongyang via an expressway.
Welcomed by Pyongyang citizens around 11:30 a.m., Roh will arrive at the upper-scale Baekhwawon Guest House and meets with North Korean senior officials in the afternoon. After visiting a factory for heavy industries, he will participate in a welcoming event hosted by the North.
``On the second day, he will likely hold two rounds of summit talks with Kim,'' the spokesman said.
He did not rule out a possibility that Roh and Kim would watch the Arirang mass gymnastics and arts performance together.
According to sources, the two summits may hold an epoch-making event in which they plant a ``tree for peace'' during one of the three days.
Roh will visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex for about an hour on his way back to Seoul Oct. 4.
kys@koreatimes.co.kr
