A Republic of Korea (ROK) presidential limousine entered the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) yesterday taking officials on a scouting mission ahead of the second only summit meeting between leaders of the two sides.
It was the first time a ROK presidential vehicle had crossed the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone border since the 1950-53 Korean War, which followed the division of the peninsula at the end of World War II.
"We will be checking the president and the first lady's routes so that their movement is safe," a security official at the presidential Blue House said before the trip, which will take them 168 km from the border to the DPRK capital, Pyongyang.
The meeting between ROK President Roh Moo-hyun and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il was originally set for August 28-30 but was delayed to October 2-4 because of flooding in the North that killed hundreds and left more than 300,000 homeless.
The officials' visit comes a day after the ROK said six-country talks on ending the North's nuclear weapons program would not be held today as widely expected.
The DPRK has suspended operation of its Yongbyon nuclear complex and invited international inspectors under the pact in return for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil from the South. China has agreed to provide the second batch of shipments and the United States the third.
An S-Class Mercedes Benz sedan was among dozens of vehicles that crossed into the North on a four-day tour that will set the stage for the summit.
For the first summit in 2000, then president Kim Dae-jung flew to outside Pyongyang and rode with the DPRK leader into the capital.
Roh has said he would discuss beginning talks for a permanent peace treaty to replace the fraying truce that ended the Korean War. He also said the meeting will help the Cold War foes develop common economic interests by trying to build "an economic community".
Analysts expect Seoul will offer massive economic aid to repair the North's broken economy, further hit this year by the widespread flooding.
The advance team was set to return Friday. The ROK plans to send a second team to the North next Thursday, according to the ROK Unification Ministry.
Source: China Daily/agencies
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