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SEOUL - The leaders of the divided Koreas will hold a summit on Aug. 28-30 in the North Korean capital Pyongyang it was announced today.
Both sides will hold a preparatory meeting in Kaesong at an early date," the North Korean KCNA news agency said. Kaesong is a South Korean-funded industrial estate just inside the North.
In a simultaneous announcement in Seoul, chief presidential national security adviser Baek Jong-chun, told reporters the summit would "expand and develop the South-North ties to a higher level."
It will be only the second summit between the two countries that are still technically at war. The first, in 2000 between then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and current North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, led to decreased tension and unprecedented cooperation between the two states.
News of the summit follows this year's agreement by North Korea with regional powers to move towards ending its nuclear weapons programme in return for massive aid.
North Korea carried out its first nuclear test last year.
Pyongyang has made its first significant move in that process by shutting down its nuclear reactor and source of material for atomic weapons.
The United States today welcomed news of the summit, saying Washington hoped the meeting would encourage peace between the two countries
"We have long welcomed and supported North-South dialogue and hope this meeting will help promote peace and security on the Korean peninsula (while) fulfilling the goals of the six-party talks," State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore told Reuters.
"This is a result of efforts and discussions that have been going on for some time."
Analysts have said that South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has long been pressing for such a summit to secure his legacy as his largely unpopular term nears its end.
The last summit earned Kim Dae-jung the Nobel Peace Prize.
- REUTERS
