Korean leaders pledge peace

South Korea's Kim Dae-jung said the visit was a lifelong ambition

The leaders of North and South Korea have promised to direct all their efforts towards making their landmark summit meeting a success.

Hours after arriving in the North, the South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung said that the principle aim of visit was to liberate the people of the peninsula from the fear of war.

Let's make history

Kim Dae-jung

He said he hoped his visit would provide the momentum to promote reconciliation and eventual re-unification.

Mr Kim was speaking after holding face-to-face talks with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il - the first time such a meeting has taken place since the Korean peninsula was divided 55 years ago.

Open road

President Kim was driven through the showcase North Korean capital

Addressing a state banquet in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, President Kim called for transport links to be restored.

"Let us open up the road that has been blocked off for half a century," the South Korean leader said.

He went on to tell the assembled guests that he hoped the summit would mark the start of a process that would turn half a century of distrust and confrontation into an era of cooperation and reconciliation.

The world is closely watching us

Kim Jong-il

For his part Kim Jong-il said he was ready to talk "without reserve".

As an early indication of thawing relations across the divided Korean peninsular it has emerged that the two leaders have agreed to install a telephone between the two capitals.

Handshake

Earlier on day one of his three day visit to the North - the first by a South Korean leader - Mr Kim was met on his arrival in Pyongyang by the North Korean leader.

Thousands of Pyongyang residents lined the route of the motorcade

The gesture by the normally reclusive leader caught everyone - not least Kim Dae-jung himself - off guard.

Nonetheless the South Korean leader strode smiling down the steps of his aircraft and on to what is still, officially, enemy territory.

The two men shook hands on the tarmac and then travelled together in a motorcade to the Paekhwawon state guest house for talks.

According to officials the two leaders held hands during the journey.

Historic handshake: The leaders of the two Koreas meet for the first time

Up to a million people are thought to have stood waving bouquets of pink paper flowers and cheering along the route.

At the guest house, Kim Jong-il paid tribute to his southern counterpart's courage in travelling to North Korea.

"My mind is filled with a thousand emotions," President Kim then told his host.

"Don't worry. I will give you the best treatment possible," Kim Jong-il replied.

It was an unexpectedly warm start to three-days of meetings.

There are still many major obstacles to overcome, but after such a successful first day hopes are high on both sides of the border that at least some of the differences between the two Koreas can be ironed out.