[Breaking] South and North Korean Leaders shake hands

The leaders of the two Koreas shook hands Friday as they prepared for their historic meeting to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared from the Panmungak, a building on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjeom, at 9:27 a.m.

President Moon Jae-in was waiting for him in front of Freedom House, a building on the southern side, right behind the military demarcation line (MDL).

As Kim walked between buildings T2 and T3 ― meeting rooms of the Military Armistice Commission ― toward the MDL, Moon walked toward the line and they shook hands with the line between them.

Then Kim unexpectedly asked Moon to cross the MDL toward the northern side, and the two, holding hands, walked across the MDL again to the northern side briefly and came back to the South.

Moon then escorted Kim to the southern side, as the summit venue is the Peace House, another building in the South.
It was the first time a North Korean leader has set foot in the South since the Korean War (1950-53).

Moon and Kim had photos taken and two children offered flowers to Kim. The children are students at an elementary school in Daeseongdong Village, the only village within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in the South.

The leaders were escorted by South Korean traditional honor guards to a plaza between Peace House and Freedom House for the official welcoming ceremony that included inspection of the guards.

Kim Jong-un has signed the guestbook with a message of peace, saying a “new history begins now, the age of peace”.

After the inspection, Moon introduced his aides, who would accompany him for the summit, to Kim. Kim then introduced his aides to Moon. They then altogether had a photo session, which was not planned.

Moon and Kim walked into the Peace House.

Source: THE KOREA TIMES, JTBC, The Blue House