The leaders of North and South Korea, capitalising on the progress in shutting down the North’s nuclear program, plan to meet later this month for the second-ever summit between the longtime foes, officials said Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will host South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun from August 28-30 in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, South Korean presidential security adviser Baek Jong-chun told reporters.

At the first North-South summit, Kim met then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in June 2000, also in Pyongyang.

“The second inter-Korean summit will contribute to substantially opening the era of peace and prosperity between the two Koreas,” South Korea’s presidential office said in a statement.

The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, but the 2000 meeting led them to embark on economic cooperation projects and stage reunions of thousands of relatives split by their shared border — the world’s most heavily fortified.

Kim Dae-jung won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to engage North Korea, but the achievement was tainted by later revelations that South Korea made secret payments to foster the meeting.

Kim Jong Il believed the timing was right for a second meeting due to the state of relations between the two Koreas and the improved regional situation, South Korean National Intelligence Service head Kim Man-bok quoted his North Korean counterpart as saying earlier this month. The South’s spy chief twice visited the North to arrange the summit.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore hailed the announcement.

“We have long welcomed and supported North-South dialogue and hope this meeting will help promote peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and fulfilling the goals of the six-party talks,” she said in a statement.

The summit comes amid optimism on the peninsula as North Korea has made strides in abandoning its nuclear weapons program, including shutting down its sole operating nuclear reactor last month in exchange for oil aid.

The United States and other regional powers are negotiating with the North on a timeline for the communist nation to declare all its nuclear programs and disable the facilities.

The South’s Baek said the summit would help achieve progress in resolving the nuclear standoff and in relations between the Koreas, including the establishment of a peace regime on the peninsula.

We have long welcomed and supported North-South dialogue and hope that this meeting will help promote peace and security.
Joanne Moore,
US State Department Spokeswoman

China expects positive results can be achieved in the second South-North summit. The Chinese side supports all things conducive to the peace and stability .
Liu Jianchao
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman

I hope the summit will contribute to easing tension on the Korean Peninsula. 
Shinzo Abe
Japanese Prime Minister