Korean summit opens

The leaders begin formal talks a day after a reception of mixed messages.

Last update: October 2, 2007 - 11:58 PM

The latest: Leaders of the two Koreas opened formal talks today at the first summit between the divided countries in seven years, and North Korea's Kim Jong-il appeared to warm to his South Korean visitor after an initial chilly reception.

Focus on flooding: The leaders held talks at a state guesthouse in the North's capital, Pyongyang. Among the early topics: flooding in the North. President Roh Moo-hyun told Kim that he was concerned about the flooding, which left 600 people dead or missing this summer, South Korean reports said.

Mixed messages: Kim appeared animated and smiled repeatedly today as he greeted Roh, a contrast from his dour attitude the day before when they first met at a welcoming ceremony. There, hundreds of thousands of North Koreans, dressed in their holiday best, waved pink and red paper flowers and erupted into well-choreographed chants of "hurray." The only words Kim apparently uttered to Roh during the 12- minute ceremony were: "I'm glad to meet you." Then, Kim let his deputy, Kim Yong Nam, deal with the South Koreans for the rest of the day.

What it means: It was unclear what was behind Kim's attitude. At his first summit with the South in 2000, he hugged then counterpart Kim Dae-jung. This time, Kim had already seized a dominant position by only agreeing to a summit in the North, going back on a promise in 2000 to visit the South. Some analysts said it was a sign of Kim's faltering health. He is said to have liver problems and possibly had heart surgery this year.

Today's plan: The day was expected to be dominated by the leaders' talks, for which no agenda was released, before Roh was to view an evening performance of the North Korean propaganda spectacle known as the "mass games."

What's at stake: If North Korea agrees to work toward reducing a half-century of animosity with arms cuts, Roh is offering to help rebuild the North's economy, creating a "joint economic community" as a prelude to reunification. At home, Roh hopes success at the summit will keep the surging conservatives from winning December's presidential election.

Behind the summit: There are 200 members in the South Korean delegation. About 100 staff handle secretarial tasks.

What to give a reclusive leader? Roh presented gifts to the North Korean leader that included a bookcase full of South Korean DVDs, featuring popular soap operas and films starring Lee Young-ae, believed to be Kim's favorite starlet. Kim is a known cinema buff who has a vast film library and purportedly helped produce several movies.

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