pyongyang Citizens Remain Calm About Inter-Korean Summit

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun walked Tuesday into North Korea for a three-day summit with his

counterpart Kim Jong-il, leaving behind both well-wishers and protesters at home.

According to various opinion polls, a majority of South Koreans support the first inter-Korean summit in seven years, which is expected to focus on ways of bringing lasting peace to the peninsula and expanding cross-border economic cooperation.

Before hitting the road, Roh also reaffirmed his commitment to the thorny but important issues.

"I am well aware of the demands and expectations you have pinned on this summit," he said in a statement. "I intend to concentrate on making substantive and concrete progress that will bring about a peace settlement together with economic development."

As his motorcade passed through an area of Seoul near the presidential office on its way to the North, some residents waved their hands.

But the public mood is not as buoyant as it was seven years ago, when people here showed keen attention and high expectations.

South Koreans remain relatively calm this time despite the historical significance of the country's president passing over the tightly-sealed border on foot for the first time in a symbolic gesture for peace.

"It is not important whether the president walks across the border or not. The results of the summit are more important," said Lee Jong-sung, who works at an electronics company in Seoul.

Experts pointed out that a second summit usually draws less attention than the first one.

"Another reason for the public apathy towards the summit is the spread of a negative image on North Korea due to its nuclear test," said Kim Yong-hyun, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University.

Conservative activists continued their protests against the summit, calling it a political show by a lame duck president prior to the presidential election in December.

"It is nothing more than a political gambit aimed at turning the table in the presidential race," said Jang Jae-wan, head of the national coalition for the New Right movement.

On the other hand, progressives expressed optimism that it will provide momentum to open a new chapter for the reunification of the two Koreas.