North and South Korea meet for third time

Four months of whirlwind diplomacy has taken the leaders of the two Koreas from the edge of war to openly discussing peace


1. FIRST SUMMIT. Jun 13-15, 2000 

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung meets leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Summit leads to series of reunions of families separated by Korean War and establishment in 2004 of joint factory in North Korea’s border town of Kaesong

Kim Dae-jung wins Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his “Sunshine policy” of engagement with North
but revelations that Seoul paid Pyongyang $500m to secure meeting taint his legacy

2. SECOND SUMMIT. Oct 2-4, 2007

President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong-il meet in Pyongyang amid brisk diplomacy among members of six-party denuclearisation talks

Two leaders vow to replace Korean War armistice with permanent peace regime and set up joint fishing area along sea border to prevent naval clashes

Accord flounders after repeated nuclear provocations coupled with conservative governments in Seoul taking harder line on Pyongyang

3. THIRD SUMMIT. Apr 27, 2018

President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un meet at truce village of Panmunjom in demilitarised zone
(DMZ) separating two Koreas

Talks will focus on indication that Pyongyang could be willing to give up nuclear weapons


NORTH KOREA
DMZ
SOUTH KOREA
Pyongyang
Panmunjom
Kaesong
Seoul
Yellow Sea (West Sea)
1 2 3

Joint fishing area proposed in 2007 along disputed sea border

50km 30 miles


Sources: FT, Reuters, The Hankyoreh 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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