Taipei celebrates the ‘opening of heaven’

Referring to the 2nd Inter-Korea Summit which started Oct. 2 and ends today, Chang said South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun made a “tremendous step” by walking across the border that divides Korea. “We believe that this step will play a very important role in the future peace and stability of Korea.”

On Tuesday, traveling to Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Il on the first day of the summit, Roh accompanied by his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, walked across the Korean Demilitarized Zone into the North, making him the first South Korean leader to do so.

When asked about his view on the summit, Oh said he hoped it would be “very successful and very constructive” for both North and South Korea. “I hope that we have some substantial progress. Everybody is awaiting the outcome of the talks.”

“I think the outcome of the summit meeting will be very positive... in promoting a friendly relationship and encouraging the North Koreans to come out to the international community,” he added.

The Inter-Korean Summit is a meeting of heads of South Korea and North Korea. The South Korean Government has consistently emphasized the need for an inter-Korean summit, which it recognizes as instrumental in resolving the issue of the North Korean nuclear program and developing inter-Korean relations.

While no official agenda had been announced for the talks, the summit has raised hopes to pave the way for a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War, a solution to the nuclear issue, and a strengthening of the economic ties and relations between the two sides. A joint statement is scheduled to be announced this morning.

The Koreas’ only other summit was held in Pyongyang in 2000 between Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung.

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