South Korean, DPRK Leaders Promise to Meet More Often After Ongoing Summit

Leaders of South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) promised to meet more often after Friday’s summit, a senior official with South Korea’s Blue House told reporters at noon.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un held formal, closed-door talks for over an hour and a half in the morning at the Peace House, on the South Korean side of Panmunjom which has divided the Korean Peninsula since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Before the formal talks, Moon greeted Kim right in front of the military demarcation line (MDL). Moon led Kim across the MDL into the South Korean side of Panmunjom, and then Kim invited Moon to step into the DPRK side. They then returned to the South Korean side together.

Yoon Young-chan, Moon’s senior press secretary, told reporters at the Panmunjom press center that Moon crossed over to the DPRK side as Kim suggested after Moon expressed the hope that he can once set foot on the DPRK territory.

It was an unscheduled event for the official welcoming ceremony which included the inspection of an honor guard.

While Moon and Kim were being escorted by a traditional South Korean honor guard to the Panmunjom square on the South Korean side, Moon told Kim that if the DPRK leader visits the presidential compound in Seoul, he could show much more excellent performances.

Kim replied to Moon that if Moon invites him to the Blue House, he will accept it.

During a chat at the Peace House reception room before the formal talks, Moon said he would like to visit Mount Paektu via the DPRK route. Kim said that if Moon comes, he will make Moon conveniently visit the DPRK mountain.

After the formal talks, Kim returned to the DPRK side of Panmunjom for a lunch break. The second round of formal talks between them, to be followed by a banquet, will take place in the afternoon. (Xinhua)