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Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 26 Apr 2018
Panmunjom: In what is touted as the first summit in more than a decade between the two antagonistic sides trading threats in one of the world's most volatile zones, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be meeting South Korean President Moon jae-in on Friday at the Panmunjom border village.
The historic meeting, is said to be the highest North-South dialogue in over a decade.
Kim, who is set to cross the military demarcation line to the South for the first time, will be escorted by South Korean honour guards upon his arrival.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Peace House.
The North Korean leader is expected to reach the venue an hour prior to the meeting time.
South Korea's presidential chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, told the media that Kim and Moon will also hold a tree planting ceremony in the afternoon
According to him, a pine tree will be planted, as it symbolises peace and prosperity.
Following the planting ceremony, Kim and Moon will walk together in Panmunjom, prior to the start of next round's talk.
The leaders are expected to sign an agreement and release a joint statement before the meeting concludes.
South Korea will also host a banquet for the guests, where, Spring of One, a video will be watched by both sides.
When the second world war ended with Japan surrendering to the Allies in 1945, the Korean peninsula- which was ruled by Japan then for 35 years after its annexation- was divided into two zones of occupation – the U.S.-controlled South Korea and the Soviet-controlled North Korea.
The two countries were separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) after the Korean war ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1953. The war was started by North to unify the Korean peninsula under communist regime, with Soviet aid. However, the Korean DMZ conflict started with soldiers of both sides invading the demilitarized zone time and again.
Tensions escalated since 1996 when commuinist North Korea- as one of the most secretive and closed societies in the world- sent heavy troops into the DMZ and announced it will no longer adhere to the armistice of 1953.
In 2007 after a decade of tensions and skirmishes, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun walked across the Korean Demilitarized Zone for talks with Kim Jong-il. But the dispute continued with both engaging in exchaging fire and attacking naval ships and kiling each others soldiers.
Image: Internet Grab and Wikipedia