[Yonhap Photo
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rolled out the red carpet for South Korean leader Moon Jae-in, offering the treatment of a crucial state guest to welcome his first trip to Pyongyang for a summit that followed a string of peace overtures to ease cross-border tensions.
The airport was engulfed in an awkward silence when Moon's plane landed and taxied at around 10:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) Monday, with hundreds of North Korean citizens waiting silently in front of a large placard reading "Let's open the era of peace and prosperity with the unified power of our people."
A sudden roar erupted from the crowd and a military band started playing when Kim, clad in a dark Maoist suit and accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, appeared to lead a colorful ceremony involving a salute of 21 guns and an honor guard march.
[Yonhap Photo]
The welcomers wearing suits and traditional costumes fervently waved North Koreans flags, red and pink paper flowers and unification flags which represent all of Korea. Some were seen bursting into tears in a scene televised live by South Korean TV stations.
The ecstasy came to the climax after Kim and Moon with big smiles clapped and hugged each other, locking their hands together in a cheek-to-cheek embrace, with North Korean well-wishers shouting "Hurrah".
The unification flag with a blue silhouette of the Korean peninsula in the center against the white background has been used frequently at sports and cultural events involving the two Koreas, but it was used first for an official political event.
Throughout the ceremony, Kim politely guided Moon, introducing North Korean government officials one-by-one and standing together on a special stage to inspect a march by goose-stepping ceremonial guards.
Moon clapped back at North Korean citizens and made a big bow in a gesture of gratitude for their warm welcome before being guided into black sedans. During his three-day trip to Pyongyang, Moon will stay in Paekhwawon, the state guest house.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
