Two Koreas to hold summit (Kim Jong Il,South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Aug. 28-30 in Pyongyang)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/7/07 | Burt Herman - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SEOUL, South Korea - North and South Korea announced Wednesday that their leaders will hold their second-ever summit this month, reprising the historic 2000 meeting that launched unprecedented reconciliation between the two longtime foes.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will meet Aug. 28-30 in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, South Korean presidential security adviser Baek Jong-chun told reporters.

At the only other such North-South summit, Kim met then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in June 2000, also in Pyongyang.

North Korea also released a statement confirming an agreement on the summit signed Sunday between the heads of the two countries' intelligence agencies.

"The meeting between the top leaders of the North and the South will be of weighty significance in opening a new phase of peace on the Korean peninsula," the statement said, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

"The second inter-Korean summit will contribute to substantially opening the era of peace and prosperity between the two Koreas," South Korea's presidential office said in a statement.

The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, but the 2000 meeting led them to embark on economic cooperation projects and hold reunions of families split by their shared border — the world's most heavily fortified.

Kim Dae-jung won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to engage North Korea through his so-called sunshine policy.

However, the first summit's achievements were tainted by later revelations that the South Korean government made secret payments to foster the meeting.

Kim Jong Il believed the timing was right for a second meeting due to the state of relations between the two Koreas and the improved regional situation, South Korean National Intelligence Service head Kim Man-bok quoted his North Korean counterpart as saying earlier this month. Kim Man-bok twice visited the North to arrange the summit.

Kim Jong Il promised in 2000 to make a return visit to South Korea for a summit, but it appeared security concerns made that impossible for this month's meeting. Kim Man-bok said North Korea had proposed Pyongyang as the venue and that Roh accepted it.

Kim rarely travels abroad, and leaves the country solely via train.

The two sides will work out the agenda for the summit this month in meetings at the North Korean border city of Kaesong, site of a joint industrial park that is one of the most tangible achievements from the 2000 meeting.

At the first summit, Kim Jong Il warmly greeted his South Korean counterpart on the tarmac immediately upon landing, showing a human side of the reclusive North Korean leader known for his trademark jumpsuit and sunglasses.

The summit comes at a time of optimism on the peninsula as North Korea has made strides in abandoning its nuclear weapons program, including shutting down its sole operating nuclear reactor last month in exchange for oil aid. The United States and other regional powers are negotiating with North Korea on a timeline for the communist nation to declare all its nuclear programs and disable the facilities.

Roh has repeatedly said that he would meet with Kim at any time and any place and there has been persistent talk this year that a North-South summit was possible. The conservative opposition blasted such potential plans, however, calling them an election ploy ahead of South Korea's December presidential vote.

Roh is set to leave office in February and has seen his popularity plummet amid perceptions he has bungled handling of the economy and security policies.

___

Associated Press writer Kwang-tae Kim contributed to this report.

[NormsRevenge]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, left, and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung shake hands as Kim Dae-jung arrives at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang in this June 13, 2000 file photo. The leaders of North and South Korea will hold their second-ever summit later this month in Pyongyang, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007, reprising the historic 2000 meeting that launched unprecedented reconciliation between the two longtime foes. In June 2000, Kim Jong Il met then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, also in Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Yonhap, POOL, File)

[NormsRevenge]

A view of the the Friendship Bridge (L) and the "Broken Bridge" which was bombed by the US during the Korean war over the Yalu River which borders North Korea in the background from the Chinese city of Dandong, in October 2006. China will offer 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to North Korea this month under the second phase of an aid-for-disarmament nuclear agreement on the communist state, according to a report released on Sunday.(AFP/File/Peter Parks)

[NormsRevenge]

In this Korean Central News Agency photo released by Korea News Service in Tokyo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il casts his ballot at a polling station in Hamju county in South Hamgyong province, northeast of Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, July 29, 2007. North Koreans went to the polls Sunday to elect the Provincial, City and county People's Assemblies. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)

[Gay State Conservative]

Gee...I wonder how this meeting will go.....

"You give us money.You give us lots of money or else we subject you to revolutionary justice.."

[aShepard]

Gee, that’s kinda’ neat!
You can vote in your pajamas!

[Int]

Woah. This story deserves breaking news status.

[OCC]

The two sides will work out the agenda for the summit this month in meetings at the North Korean border city of Kaesong, site of a joint industrial park that is one of the most tangible achievements from the 2000 meeting.

NK got an industrial park, US oil and food,and then built atomic weapons, sold missiles abroad, and they are rewarded with another summit?

[El Gato]

Meeting in Pyongyang is a big mistake. Little Kim already has many advantages, being an absolute dictator and all. No need to hold the talks on his turf. That’s what Panmunjom is for, or at least some neutral site, Some Island in the Pacific would also probably work. Easter, Christmas, or something in Micronesia. Maybe Tahiti or better yet Pitcairn. Something to be said for Tinian in the Marianas as well, a gentle reminder as it were.

[TWohlford]

“NK got an industrial park, US oil and food,and then built atomic weapons, sold missiles abroad, and they are rewarded with another summit?”

No, DPRK got taken to the Red China wood shed and was told to knock off the nuke stuff and start behaving, lest more trains explode near the Dear Leader.

If you’ve followed the news — it might’ve gotten bumped off of the front page due to Paris or Nichole or Lindsay — you’d know that China has found DPRK’s actions dangerous to good business. Chinese don’t tolerate political upheaval or bad business practices. Chairman Mao’s little pet project (DPRK) don’t look so cute in modern China.

[OCC]

I guess all NK’s cooperation with the USA and living up to the “agreed framework” has been bumped off the front page as well?

[trek]

Yoo rusress to me Arec Bawdwin!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[headsonpikes]

I assume the South Koreans will be taking flashlights with them!

[SevenofNine]

Guess Chia Pet won’t be so roaney anymore

[jedward]

bump

[Tamar1973]

Kim Jong Il promised in 2000 to make a return visit to South Korea for a summit, but it appeared security concerns made that impossible for this month's meeting. Kim Man-bok said North Korea had proposed Pyongyang as the venue and that Roh accepted it. Kim rarely travels abroad, and leaves the country solely via train.

Is this why Crazy Kim doesn't like to fly?

[SevenofNine]

OMG Tamar that funny LOLOLOL!

Monk I think Tamar is right that reason can you imagine put yourself in Bill Shatner shoes see BJ as gremlin

[HardStarboard]

I thought Kim Jung Il was ill? Miracle recovery for the great leader and 18 holes in one on one round title holder?

[SevenofNine]

Hey that give Freepers some idea vote in your PJ