This is a big news in my home country

Let me explain you this in an easy way...

Between South and North Korea, there is the Military Demarcation Line where nobody can enter. The President of South Korea will walk through that area to enter North Korea.

President May Cross Border on Foot

By Jung Sung-kiStaff ReporterPresident Roh Moo-hyun may cross the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) dividing the two Koreas into North Korea on foot next week for the second inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, a report said Thursday.

The second batch of the 34-member summit preparation team, which left for Pyongyang Thursday morning, will consult on the matter with North Korean authorities, the Ministry of Unification said.

``If President Roh is going to cross the MDL, traveling by car is too plain to highlight the symbolism of the historic cross-border summit talks. In that context, I believe Roh had better travel on foot,'' a government official was quoted by the Pusan Ilbo as saying.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Cheon Ho-seon, however, did not rule out the possibility that Roh would fly to the North Korean capital in case of an emergency or bad weather. Cheon said a presidential plane will be deployed to a Pyongyang airport.Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told reporters that the government is considering all options on the table regarding methods travel for Roh's trip to the North.

``Given this is the first overland trip (South Korea's President) to North Korea, we are considering various ways to convey the summit's symbolism to the Korean and world people in an effective way,'' Lee said. ``We'll make a final decision on the issue later.
''It is unclear, however, whether Pyongyang will accept Seoul's suggestion of Roh crossing the MDL on foot as security guarantees for the head of state in the MDL would be involved, North Korea experts say. Roh is scheduled to cross the MDL, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, through the Gyeongui Road that links Seoul to the North Korean border city of Sinuiju bordering China.

The Korean War ended with an armistice, signed by the U.S.-led United Nations Command, North Korea and China, leaving the two Koreas technically at war. The Seoul government originally wanted Roh to travel to Pyongyang using a reconnected cross-border railway. But the North was reluctant to accept the request, citing military security guarantees for the trip, government officials said. In 2000, former President Kim Dae-jung flew to Pyongyang for the landmark first-ever inter-Korean summit. Meanwhile, Lee said after the summit, the government will dispatch special envoys to the United States, China, Russia and Japan to help coordinate North Korean policies. A 298-member entourage for President Roh and first lady Kwon Yang-suk has been decided upon, Lee added.gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr