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| Kim and Moon, hand-in-hand, cross over the military demarcation line into the North, Friday. / Joint Press Corps |
By Kim Ji-soo
Tension of another kind, full of anticipation for peace, took over Panmunjeom Friday, as the two Koreas held their third summit.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emerged from the doors of the liaison office on the North side, surrounded by numerous officials and bodyguards for the historic summit.
His younger sister Kim Yo-jong was seen in the first group; North Korea's first lady Ri Sol-ju arrived later for a commemorative dinner.
Looking confident, Kim was met by President Moon Jae-in, who waited near the Military Demarcation Line. After shaking hands, Kim took a symbolic step, becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South.
Kim was then seen suggesting to Moon to cross over to the North. Moon accepted, and together they turned back, hand-in-hand, like long-lost friends or two leaders sorely needing each other's support in their bold step in history.
They stood on the North side briefly, and then turned back again. Moon then walked alongside Kim on a red carpet, with an honor guard to the South and North Korean delegations. Entering the Peace House, Kim signed the visitors' book: "A new history begins now; at the starting point of history and the era of peace."
The two leaders vowed to make progress at the summit in the initial moments of the talks that were opened to the public.
The doors then closed for the talks to commence on the historic day that was heavy on symbolic steps, gestures and photo-ops.
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