In line with the decision to meet in a month's time, we now look back at previous talks between
the divided countries.
Concerns still linger over the possibility of Pyongyang's hidden agenda, but some analysts
express confidence, this time it could be different.
Cha Sang-mi shares with us their take on the matter.
The leaders of South and North Korea have only met twice since the Korean War ended
in 1953.
The first inter-Korean summit was held in June 2000 in Pyongyang... between then-South
Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The second summit came seven years later,... between Kim Jong-il and the next South Korean
President, Roh Moo-hyun, a former democracy activist.
The purpose of both those summits was to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programs,
but denuclearization remained elusive.
On Thursday, the date was set for the third inter-Korean summit, this time between President
Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un on April 27th at the Peace House in the border village of
Panmunjeom.
Concerns remain about North Korea's intentions, but some experts think the first summit in
over a decade will be different.
"This time, North Korea is not being capricious.
In the past they broke their agreements many times, but this is the first time the North's
leader has claimed a willingness to denuclearize and a need for talks with South Korea and
the U.S."
Another expert says North Korea seems more at ease communicating with the current liberal
South Korean administration.
"The North Korean government would think trust can be restored with South Korea under the
liberal Moon Jae-in administration... as a successor of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun
administrations and their Sunshine Policy."
And some say, with the U.S.-North Korea summit planned in May, the issue of denuclearization
will be discussed thoroughly.
"The U.S.A. government has made it very clear that denuclearization will be the prerequisite
for the successful outcome at the summit meeting between the North Korea and the United States."
Experts say the inter-Korean summit planned in April will serve as a stepping stone to
the talks to follow... between President Trump and Kim Jong-un.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
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