DPRK, South Korean Leaders Sign Historic Agreement

Kim Dae-Jung, Kim Jong Il Hold Expanded Talks

Top leaders of the North and South of the Korean Peninsula signed a historic agreement in Pyongyang Wednesday regarding diverse issues on national reconciliation, South Korean News Agency Yonhap and Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) reported in Seoul.

The agreement was signed by DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang at 23:20 local time (1420 GMT).

Immediately after the signing, the two leaders exchanged copies of the agreement, drank a toast to each other and posed for photos.

The agreement covers such areas as reconciliation and cooperation, easing of tension and national unification, reunion of separated families and broad exchanges in economic and social sectors.

According to the agreement, Kim Dae-jung extended an invitation to Kim Jong Il to visit South Korea and Kim Jong Il agreed to make the trip at an appropriate time.