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Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok announces the official roster of the South Korean delegation to the Pyongyang inter-Korean summit at the Blue House’s press room on Sept. 16. (Blue House photo pool)
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Observers speculate over how Moon and Kim will meet and what they will do during visit
President Moon Jae-in is traveling to Pyongyang on Sept. 18 for a third inter-Korean summit. He is the third South Korean President to travel to the North Korean capital, after predecessors Kim Dae-jung in 2000 and Roh Moo-hyun in 2007. He and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – “old acquaintances” by now – appear likely to have at least four to five encounters during the three-day trip, including their one-on-one summit, lunch and dinner, and the welcoming event.
What kind of greeting from Kim Jong-un?
The biggest focus of interest is how and where in Pyongyang the two leaders will be meeting. President Moon is scheduled to leave the Blue House on the morning of Sept. 18 and board a presidential aircraft, traveling to Pyongyang Sunan International Airport over a direct West (Yellow) Sea route. The two leaders appear likely to have their first meeting at the airport. During their first summit at Panmunjom last April, Kim told President Moon, “If you arrive by airplane, we can have a welcome ceremony and at the airport, and I think that will be a good way.”
At a press conference in Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) on Sept. 17, Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok said, “President Moon will depart from Seoul Air Base in Seongnam at 8:40 am and is expected to arrive at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport at 10 am,” adding that “We are expecting an official welcome ceremony at the Pyongyang airport after which the two heads of state will have a luncheon before proceeding with their first official summit of the visit.”
“In the 2000 and 2007 inter-Korean summits, the official summits with Chairman Kim Jong-il began on the second day of the visit, after Presidents Kim and Roh were greeted by Kim Yong-nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea,” Im elaborated. “This time, however, the two heads of state will begin their summit on the first day, which is significant and a very important difference.”
“Because there will be a welcoming ceremony at the airport, we think it is likely that President Moon will be directly welcomed by Chairman Kim Jong-un himself,” Im said.
A North Korean army, navy, and air force honor guard review and welcoming event with Pyongyang residents are also expected to take place during the meeting. At the time of the Panmunjom summit in April, Kim was presented with a South Korean army, navy, and air force honor guard review at the Peace House venue.
A surprising scene was staged for the 2000 inter-Korean summit, with then-President Kim Dae-jung being greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at Sunan Airport and witnessing a North Korean honor guard review; after the welcoming ceremony, Kim Jong-il escorted Kim Dae-jung to his accommodations in the North Korean leader’s personal car.
Roh Moo-hyun arrived over land in 2007 and was greeted at the People’s Palace of Culture in central Pyongyang by Supreme People’s Council presidium president Kim Yong-nam, after which he traveled in an open car for a roughly 20-minute welcoming event with cheering by Pyongyang residents; his meeting with Kim Jong-il took place around noon at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang. Roh and Kim were also presented with a North Korean military honor guard review.
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On Sept. 16, Seoul residents pose for a photograph on a replica of the bridge where South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat next to each other during the Panmunjom summit. (Baek So-ah, staff photographer)
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Will Pres. Moon be viewing “Shining Fatherland”?
The Paekhwawon Guest House is seen as the likeliest place for President Moon’s accommodations. Both Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun stayed there in the past. The inter-Korean summits also took place at the same venue. Both times, Kim Jong-il visited the South Korean president on the day after his respective arrival to hold the summit at the guest house. It remains to be seen whether Kim Jong-un will continue with his father’s precedent of holding summits at Paekhwawon.
“There will also be a summit on the morning of Sept. 19, the second day of the visit. If that summit proceeds smoothly, we say with caution that there may be a joint press conference where they announce certain agreements,” Im said.
After the summit, President Moon is expected to take his farewell dinner at a local restaurant in downtown Pyongyang. “President Moon frequently eats in local restaurants during overseas tours, and although we’re not sure which restaurant he’ll be going to this time, we relayed our hopes for the farewell dinner to be held at a restaurant that’s popular among Pyongyang residents,” Im added.
Two visiting special envoy delegations from South Korea this year met with Kim at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), where the North Korean leader has his own offices. For this reason, some are suggesting the inter-Korean summit could also be held at the WPK headquarters.
Another topic of interest is what cultural performances the North has prepared for President Moon. In 2000, Kim Dae-jung watched a performance of traditional dance and instrumental music entitled “People of Pyongyang Fortress” at the Mansudae Art Theatre on the day of his arrival. Roh watched the performance “Arirang” at the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium on the evening of Oct. 3, 2007, the day after his arrival in North Korea. For the performance, the North Koreans excised most of the sensitive parts stressing ideological aspects, including slogans praising Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un and scene showing the North Korean military’s bayonet skills.
Some have speculated North Korea may recommend a viewing of the mass gymnastics performance “Shining Fatherland,” although it remains unclear whether the Blue House would agree to President Moon watching a performance with parts focusing on the establishment of the North Korean government. Other possibilities that have been mentioned include performances by the Moranbong Band or Samijyon Orchestra.
A second “pedestrian bridge” event?
Another topic garnering much attention is the kind of friendship events the two leaders will be having in addition to their summit, including their lunch and dinner meetings. A meeting where the two leaders sat knee to knee on a pedestrian bridge was considered a highlight of their April summit at Panmunjom. Some observers are suggesting a possible “surprise event” could be staged involving hiking on Mt. Baekdu or the Kaema Plateau, as mentioned by President Moon at the April summit.
On Sept. 20, the last day of his visit, Moon is scheduled to depart for Seoul in the morning, but there is the possibility that Kim has prepared a friendship building event for that day.
“President Moon is scheduled to depart from Sunan Airport on the morning of Sept. 20, after a farewell ceremony,” Im said. “However, a friendship building event may also be scheduled for that day, in which case President Moon’s return flight will be rescheduled,” he added.
“There is a dream I have yet to achieve, which is hiking on Mt. Baekdu and the Kaema Plateau. I believe you will answer that wish,” he told Kim at the time, asking the North Korean leader to “send me a travel ticket for Mt. Baekdu and the Kaema Plateau once I leave office.”
A further focus is on what other places President Moon will be visiting. In 2007, Roh Moo-hyun paid visits to a Pyeonghwa Motors factory in Nampo, South Pyongan Province, and a West Sea floodgate prior to his farewell luncheon on the final day of his North Korea stay on Oct. 4. It was an itinerary that also served to express a commitment to inter-Korean economic cooperation and the vision of a West Sea peace zone.
With President Moon having made previous references to an East Asian railway community and the establishment of special unified economic zones, some are speculating that he could visit places connected with those areas.
President Moon’s security during his visit is expected to be similar to that provided to Roh during his 2007 visit. For that vision, Roh’s closest security was provided by the Blue House Presidential Security Service, with North Korea offering a second line of security. During Kim Dae-jung’s 2000 visit, six to seven security staffers with North Korea’s Supreme Guard Command and four to five South Korean security staffers served as close-distance guards when the two leaders appeared together.
By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter
Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
