The following is a briefing given this morning by Yoon Young-chan, Senior Secretary to the President for Public Communication.
Thank you for your hard work yesterday.
The first session of the Inter-Korean Summit lasted a bit longer than originally scheduled. I was told that the two leaders conversed candidly and sincerely on three topics. The scheduled performance and dinner event were postponed accordingly.
On May 26, Chairman Kim Jong Un said, “I will go all out to welcome President Moon and First Lady Kim if they come to Pyeongyang in the fall when bountiful fruits are being cultivated.” True to his word, he provided them with a most lavish welcome.
The entire world is focusing its attention on Pyeongyang in hopes of peace on the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, the leaders of the two Koreas may be experiencing the loneliest time of all, for the future of the Korean Peninsula rests heavily on their shoulders. This is not a negotiation to decide winners and losers. Rather, we all ardently hope they will usher in a future of coexistence and peace for all.
I will now brief you on today’s schedule.
At around 10:00 am, President Moon and Chairman Kim will hold an additional round of talks at their summit. As of now, it is difficult to tell what type of agreement the two leaders will reach. The outcome is set to be announced, however, an exact time cannot be given at present. Some parts of this morning’s summit and the announcement of the outcome will be broadcast live.
During the summit, First Lady Kim Jung-sook and her entourage will visit the Mangyeongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyeongyang’s Mangyeongdae-guyeok District. Chairman Kim’s wife Ri Sol Ju is likely to accompany the First Lady. First Lady Kim will likely visit the palace’s artistic gymnastics hall, swimming pool and theater. The special delegation will go on a separate tour to the science hall and performing arts center where students are given classes in dance and gayageum, Korea’s traditional 12-string zither. They will join the First Lady as she heads to the theater.
President Moon will move to Okryu Restaurant for lunch after the summit.
Following lunch, the President, First Lady, official delegation and special delegation will visit Mansudae Art Studio in Pyeongyang’s Pyeongcheon-guyeok District. Exhibition Hall Director Kim Yong Hee is expected to guide them on a tour of the sculptures and other works of art.
While President Moon and First Lady Kim are visiting the Mansudae Art Studio, the business leaders from the South are scheduled to visit the Tree Nursery No. 112 of the North Korean People’s Army located in Seoktan-ri, Songrim-si City, Hwanghaebuk-do Province. It was built in May 2016, and Chairman Kim is said to have ordered the reconstruction of the nursery. They are also expected to visit the Pyeongyang Teacher Training College, which trains teachers who are responsible for the education of pre-school and elementary school children in Pyeongyang.
In the evening, President Moon and First Lady Kim, along with the South Korean official delegation, are scheduled to dine at the Welcoming Spring Room of the Pyeongyang Daedonggang Seafood Restaurant, which is frequented by Pyeongyang citizens. Some Pyeongyang citizens are expected to dine together at other tables in the same room. The guests see a fish tank and pick the fish they want to eat, including salmon, leather carp, farmed sturgeon and rainbow trout, before going inside and then the restaurant serves the cooked fish.
Later on, President Moon and the South Korean delegation will watch a mass-performance “Brilliant Fatherland” at May Day Stadium. The stadium is the largest multi-purpose sporting facility in North Korea and located in Reungnado, Jung-guyeok District, Pyeongyang. We understand the North has modified the performance in consideration of the position of our delegation as much as possible. The running time of the performance is one hour and it will be watched by 150,000 spectators.
(Unofficial translation)