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North, South Korean summit talks focus on economics
PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- In the newest indication of thawing relations on the Korean Peninsula, officials began the second day of the historic inter-Korean summit by discussing greater economic cooperation and the possible opening of representative offices in each other's nations. However, a key person was missing from Wednesday morning's talks -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. He was to meet South Korean President Kim Dae-jung later Wednesday, when the South Korean leader was expected to invite him to Seoul for a reciprocal summit. Kim Dae-jung and North Korean legislative leader Kim Young Nam discussed the idea of representative offices while talking about ways to improve bilateral relations and ease tension on the peninsula. Kim Dae-jung is the first South Korean leader to visit North Korea. The countries had agreed to a summit in 1994. But then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung died at age 82 only weeks before he was to meet with South Korean counterpart, Kim Young-sam.
Meanwhile, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young Nam also discussed ways of enhancing economic cooperation, especially in road, rail and other social infrastructure projects, to help boost the North's nearly collapsed economy. Investment guarantees and elimination of double taxation to spur South Korean spending in the North was also discussed. Living standards in North Korea are approximately one-tenth of the standards in the South. Summit creates fervorThe historic, three-day summit began Tuesday amid a near religious fervor in South Korea, where many people hoped for a dramatic breakthrough in the decades of tension. The Koreas have been divided in a Cold War standoff for decades. The 1950-53 Korean War, in which U.S.-led forces fought Chinese- and Soviet-backed North Korean troops, ended in an armed truce and unwavering political tension. The countries remain technically at war, and thousands of troops guard each side of the border. Kim Jong Il had helped to create the wave of euphoria and high expectations in South Korea on Tuesday when he greeted Kim Dae-jung at Pyongyang's Sunan Airport - - with a two-handed handshake. That gesture -- a sign of friendship and respect in Korea -- set the encouraging tone for the talks. Korean analyst Stephen Linton told CNN that the double-handed handshake was comparable to a hug in the West. He said nobody could have imagined Kim Jong Il doing that in the recent past. "What this means is mutual recognition," CNN correspondent Mike Chinoy said. "That is something neither side has been willing to do (in the past)." Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-ae reported Wednesday that the warm greeting had increased South Koreans' optimism and expectations, which could be deflated following the summit. "South Korean media has portrayed this as such a historic, groundbreaking, unparalleled event that everything from this is a letdown," said Lee Chong-min of Yonsei University. "And that is the problem," Lee said. South Korean leader seeks peaceKim Dae-jung cautioned against unrealistic expectations before he left South Korea. He said his top priorities were to meet Kim Jong Il, and to have a heart-to-heart talk with the North Korean leader. After the handshake, the leaders shared a 40-minute limousine ride into Pyongyang. They chatted and occasionally held hands, a sign of mutual respect. Their first official meeting lasted for about half an hour. Kim Dae-jung vowed to lead the effort for peace, cooperation and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. The split between the two countries is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. He told North Koreans that he would search with their leader for ways for all Koreans to live peacefully and to lead better lives. The South wants the North to agree to family reunions, a summit sequel in Seoul and other conciliatory gestures in exchange for resources to rebuild the communist nation's dilapidated economy. North Korea also appears interested in forging a new relationship with its long-time enemy, but without changing its political system. "From Kim Jong Il's perspective, he meets with Kim Dae-jung, he makes some kind of general agreement or principled agreement, and in exchange he gets economic assistance from South Korea without any political conditions," said Lee. North Korea, which suffered a deadly famine in the late 1990s, relies on food aid from its traditional foes, South Korea, Japan and the United States. Washington, Moscow applaud summitWashington and Moscow led the applause for Tuesday's historic meeting, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan hoped the summit marked "the beginning of a new era of mutual trust and cooperation between the two Koreas." The Russian Foreign Ministry said it welcomed the summit, which is taking place a few weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin is to visit North Korea. Said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart: "You know, it's impossible to predict at this point where these talks will lead, but it's obviously an important step and an important part of the process that they have been brought together in this forum to have discussions directly." The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
RELATED STORIES: Koreas praised for historic first meeting, talks continue RELATED SITES: North Korea: Politics and Government | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CNN's Sohn Jie-ae has a video profile of South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. (June 13)
CNN's Mike Chinoy shows the events surrounding the first day of the summit. (June 13)
South Koreans are happy about the summit, as CNN's Sohn Jie-ae shows. (June 13)
