South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun has made a symbolic step across the border into neighbouring North Korea as he heads to Pyongyang for a rare summit meeting with his counterpart, Kim Jong Il.
The two Koreas are holding only their second face-to-face leaders' meeting and the agenda is peace on the Korean peninsula, which has been technically in a state of war for more than half a century.
At the same time, there are signs of progress in the multilateral deal to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear program.
Crossing the line
At the border between the two Koreas, the South's President stopped his motorcade for a symbolic gesture.
Roh Moo-Hyun got out, and after a brief ceremony, televised live by South Korean television, he stepped across the yellow median line that has divided the two countries for more than 50 years.
President Roh is heading to Pyongyang for a historic leadership summit with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Il.
"My priority agenda is settling peace on the Korean Peninsula," President Roh said.
"Without confirming peace, there's no way to promise the unification and prosperity for both sides."
The summit is a follow-up to the historic first meeting in 2000 between Kim Jong Il and South Korea's then president, Kim Dae Jung.
With just two months until South Korea elects its next leader, Roh Moo-Hyun says it is an opportunity to push for a peace mechanism for the Korean peninsula.
"If we can discuss the peace system on the Korean peninsula in depth," he said, "we would talk about matters such as constructing military trust, a peace treaty, and reducing armaments in the future."
The rest of the summit's agenda has not been set, or at least it has not been revealed, but President Roh wants to pursue closer economic development ties, and to suggest reduced military preparedness along the demilitarised zone (DMZ).
Six-party talks
Even less clear is North Korea's agenda. Some believe leader Kim Jong Il may use the opportunity to make a significant announcement, perhaps tied to reported progress in six-party talks in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear programs.
Scott Snyder from the Asia Foundation in Washington DC thinks Kim Jong Il might use the meeting to commit himself to denuclearisation.
"That would be very significant because the North Koreans have been very hesitant in their own media to affirm the commitments that they've made."
"And so it makes people think, well maybe they might backtrack.
"But if, you know, the North Korean leader is on the record as saying he's going to implement those commitments, it still has to be done but it would be a step forward and a positive sign."
Details of the draft six-party agreement have not been released, as the governments involved consider the proposal, but reports suggest it will deal with the difficult issue of North Korea's removal from the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
North Korea desperately wants to be taken off the list so it can access international aid and finance. But the US is reluctant to do so until North Korea makes progress on dismantling its nuclear programs.
The draft agreement may find a way to balance the two demands. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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