President Roh Goes to N.Korea for Inter-Korean Summit

President Roh Moo-hyun launched his three-day visit to North Korea today to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

It is the first inter-Korean summit in seven years since 2000 when former President Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong Il met.

Roh is scheduled to deliver a speech to South Korean citizens in front of Cheong Wa Dae at around 8 a.m. and leave for Pyongyang in the presidential car.

He will walk through the military demarcation line for the first time as a South Korean president, which will be broadcast live nationwide.

Roh is expected to arrive in Pyongyang before noon after taking the Pyongyang-Gaesong highway and participate in a large-scale welcoming ceremony at the gateway to Pyongyang.

He will have two rounds of official talks with Kim Jong Il in the morning and afternoon of October 3 to exchange opinions on the weighty agenda, such as co-prosperity of the two Koreas, peace on the Korean peninsula, and reconciliation and reunification. Depending on the summit result, a declaration similar to the June 15 joint declaration in 2000 might be adopted.

He will watch “Arirang,” the North’s propaganda performance, visit the automobile factory in Nampo, and visit Seohae Flood Gate during his stay in North Korea. On his way back to Seoul on October 4, he will tour the Gaesong Industrial Complex.

Cheong Wa Dae is planning to maintain a 24-hour watch over the summit, with chief presidential secretary Moon Jae-in supervising, for three days immediately after the president crosses the demarcation line.

According to presidential spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon, the president said, “Things will follow the law of history.”

Cheon said, “When I asked the president how he feels on the eve of the summit, he said, ‘During the conversation between Mr. Kim Jong Il and I…’ and then added, ‘things will follow the law of history.’ It appeared that he was under pressure that all eyes are on the summit and expectations are high.”

It appears that Roh intended to talk about the summit agenda, but changed his mind and did not mention it.

Meanwhile, Lee Myung-bak, president hopeful of the Grand National Party, said, “I hope that the summit will be a resounding success.”

Lee said in a party leadership meeting in Seoul that day, “There are worries on the minds of Koreans. I believe that President Roh knows that. I hope that he takes into account the people’s concerns and makes the inter-Korean summit a success.”

jin0619@donga.com