South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Il, ended their two rounds of summit talks on Wednesday, agreeing to issue a joint declaration on Thursday.
"The agreement was reached during the two leaders' afternoon talks held from 2:45 p.m. (0545 GMT) to 4:25 p.m. (0725 GMT)," Roh's spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told reporters in Pyongyang. He said the joint declaration will be released before Kim's farewell luncheon for Roh around noon Thursday.
The spokesman said Roh was satisfied with the outcome of his talks with Kim.
After the talks, Roh, his wife and DPRK top legislator Kim Yong Nam watched a mass dance and musical spectacle, the Arirang, which features synchronized maneuvers by thousands of dancers and giant flip-card mosaic.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim was greeted by Roh and his wife in the lobby of the Paekhwawon State Guest House and received gifts from Roh before the meeting.
The meeting "marked an important occasion in expanding and developing the inter-Korean relations onto a higher stage on the basis of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and in the spirit of 'by our nation itself,'" the KCNA report said without providing details of their talks.
It is therefore important in "bringing about a new phase in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, prosperity common to the nation and the reunification of the country," the report said.
According to South Korean officials, Kim Jong Il said after the meeting that his discussions with Roh had been adequate and the summit would end as planned.
During their two rounds of talks during the day, Kim and Roh engaged in in-depth discussions on measures to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and cross-border economic cooperation.
"We didn't reach consensus on everything. There were parts on which our perceptions coincided, and there were other parts (on which the perceptions didn't coincide)," Roh said at a luncheon with the South Korean delegation, according to pool video relayed to Seoul.
"However, what I clearly confirmed is that (Kim) has a firm will about peace and there was consensus that there should be an agreement this time that presents a future direction about peace," Roh said.
The summit is the second of its kind since the peninsula was divided more than half a century ago. Roh's predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, traveled to the DPRK for the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000.
Growing economic cooperation has been a highlight of the warming relations between the North and South since the first inter-Korean summit. Joint projects have been launched in tourism, industry and other fields, including tours of Mt. Kumgang and the industrial zone in the North's border city of Kaesong.
South Korean First Lady Kwon Yang-suk visited a state museum and a medical clinic in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
The South Korean president is also scheduled to visit some industrial sites Thursday before wrapping up his three-day visit.
Roh traveled some 200 km overland to Pyongyang on Tuesday and was greeted by Kim Jong Il at a festive ceremony upon arrival. He met Kim Yong Nam on Tuesday afternoon.
Source: Xinhua
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