Moon may get red-carpet welcome in Pyongyang
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il inspect the honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony held in Pyongyang in this Oct. 2, 2007, file photo. / Korea Times file
By Park Ji-won
President Moon Jae-in is expected to receive a red-carpet welcome after arriving in Pyongyang for the third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sept. 18.
It marks the third time for a South Korean President to visit Pyongyang following Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, who both met with Kim Jong-un's father and predecessor Kim Jong-il. Moon has met Kim Jong-un two times at the truce village of Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone.
Previously, Kim Jong-un expressed his willingness to welcome Moon when he met with him at the second inter-Korean summit on May 26, saying he would treat Moon and his wife well if they make it to Pyongyang in the autumn.
It is largely expected the North will do its best to show courtesy to Moon as the North's leader has done for the South's leaders in the past.
There are a few possible scenarios for North Korea to pay courtesy based on previous events held in the North during visits by the South's presidents.
First of all, the North will likely hold a welcoming ceremony with mobilized Pyongyang citizens on the first day of Moon's visit on Sept. 18.
On June 13, 2000, when then President Kim Dae-jung visited the North for the first time as the South's leader to meet his counterpart Kim Jong-il, North Korea held a grand welcoming event at Pyongyang International Airport. Kim Dae-jung was greeted by Kim Jong-il while attending a North Korean military parade.
President Roh Moo-hyun, who traveled to the North by land to meet Kim Jong-il on Oct. 2, 2007, had participated in a welcoming ceremony held in Pyongyang. Roh was welcomed by Kim Jong-il and inspected the honor guard. The North Korean chief's participation was not planned.
Moon will likely stay in Paekhwawon (100 Flowers Garden) a prestigious guesthouse where Moon's predecessors and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stayed during their visits to the North.
In the past, leaders had met at Paekhwawon for their summits. But some expect Moon and Kim could meet at the main building of the North's Workers' Party, which was opened to media recently. Kim met with the South's envoys there this time there while meeting with Pompeo and with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The President is expected to have lunch and dinner with the North's leader as well as participate in cultural events such as watching performances at the National Art Center.
Roh had watched a performance of “Arirang” at Rungrado May Day Stadium on his second day, while Kim Dae-jung had watched the musical “People of Pyongyang Palace” at Mansudae Art Theatre.