Summits
The 2018 Inter-Korean Summit
The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games were held between February 9 and 25, and they sparked resumption in inter-Korean dialogue. North Korea sent a high-level delegation to the South, including Kim Yo-jong, a special envoy of Chairman Kim, to attend the opening ceremony. The North Korean delegation paid a courtesy call to President Moon Jae-in and delivered Chairman Kim’s letter to him.
After the Games were over, a special delegation for Republic of Korea, led by Office of National Security Director Chung Eiu-yong was dispatched to the North to talk with Chairman Kim Jong-un and other high-level government officials. After a series of meetings, they agreed to hold the Inter-Korean summit at Peace House in Panmunjom. In the runup to the event, multiple working-level meetings were held to work out the escorts, protocols, communication and other procedures. The historic meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas finally took place on April 27, 2018.
Meeting of the two leaders
Chairman Kim walked down from Panmungak to Conference Row and shook hands with President Moon, who was waiting for him on the south side of the MDL, and then the North Korean leader unprecedently stepped across onto South Korean soil. Next, both leaders turned and walked ten meters north, crossing the MDL to step onto North Korean soil, after which they walked together across the MDL again to the South Korean side.
Official welcoming ceremony
President Moon and Chairman Kim proceeded to the ceremonial venue under the watchful eye of the South Korean honor guard. The two leaders inspected the guards on the platform between Freedom House and Peace House and were introduced to members of the official entourages.
Guest register signing
Chairman Kim signed his name in the guest register inside the Peace House lobby.
Reception
President Moon had a meeting with Chairman Kim in the reception room on the 1st floor of Peace House.
Inter-Korean summit
The inter-Korean summit proceeded in two sessions inside the conference room on the 2nd floor of Peace House.
Commemorative tree-planting
To commemorate the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, the two leaders replanted a 65-year-old red pine in a plot to the right of the building on the MDL. They used dirt from Mounts Halla and Baekdu as well as water from the Han and Daedong Rivers during the planting to represent peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas.
On the Foot Bridge
President Moon and Chairman Kim strolled on the Foot Bridge after replanting the commemorative tree. The Foot Bridge was built for the convenience of Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) members when they move between the NNSC Camp and Conference Row. The two leaders had a candid discussion at the “T”-shaped space, which was newly extended to the MDL marker in the run-up to the Inter-Korean Summit.
Panmunjom Declaration (agreement and joint press conference)
Following the inter-Korean summit at Peace House, the two leaders signed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula and held a joint press conference to announce the agreement in front of Peace House.
Welcoming luncheon
President Moon, South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook, Chairman Kim, North Korean First Lady Ri Sol-ju, and members of the special entourages attended a welcoming luncheon on the 3rd floor of Peace House. Following a gala show, President Moon delivered a welcoming speech and proposed a toast. In response, Chairman Kim gave his speech of appreciation and proposed a toast of his own.
Farewell ceremony
The two couples and entourage members watched a video show called The Spring as One on the platform set up in front of Peace House. The 3D mapped performance used the front of the Peace House building as the screen. With images and music, The Spring as One presented the past, present and future of the Korean peninsula.
Farewell
After the farewell ceremony, Chairman Kim bid farewell to President Moon and his entourage and moved to the North side of Panmunjom.
