President Moon’s Visit to Cheonji, the Crater Lake on Baekdusan Mountain
Following are exchanges among President Moon, Chairman Kim, First Lady Kim and Chairman Kim’s wife Ri during their visit to Cheongji Lake atop Baekdusan Mountain.
President Moon: Hallasan Mountain also has its crater lake, Baengnokdam, but it is only fed by precipitation, not by groundwater like Cheonji Lake is. That is why Baengnokdam Lake dries up during droughts.
Chairman Kim: (to his aide) How deep is Cheonji Lake?
Chairman Kim’s wife Ri: It is 325 meter deep. Many legends surround Baekdusan Mountain. Some say dragons would live here before ascending to heaven, and others say 99 fairies came down here to bathe because the water was so clear. Another legend has been added because President Moon and First Lady Kim came here today.
Chairman Kim: By immersing the vision of a new history in Cheonji Lake on
Baekdusan Mountain and by ensuring that the Lake does not dry up, we must continue to write a new history of inter-Korean relations.
President Moon: As I came here this time, a new chapter was written in history. I even spoke in front of the people of Pyeongyang.
Chairman Kim’s wife Ri: I was very touched by your speech.
President Moon: During the April 27 summit, I told Chairman Kim that at the height of the Baekdusan Mountain tourism boom, many South Koreans went up the mountain from the Chinese side. Many of them still do. At that time, I pledged to climb the mountain through our territory, rather than starting out from China. I thought I would be able to do that fairly soon, but it has taken a long time. So it seemed like it could become an impossible dream. But, now, my dream has been realized.
Chairman Kim: Even though a small number of people can come here today, more people from the South as well as overseas Koreans should come and see Baekdusan Mountain. Since the division of the two Koreas, it has become a mountain that the people could only yearn to see.
President Moon: The first steps have just been taken. I believe that if these are followed by more and more steps, then many others will visit, and it won’t take long before the general public from the South can come here for sightseeing.
Chairman Kim: Would you like to walk down to Cheonji today?
President Moon: Yes. I want to dip my hand in the water unless Cheonji forbids it.
President Moon: Considering the hospitality I received today and yesterday, I must pay you back when you come to Seoul.
Chairman Kim's wife Ri: There is an old saying in our country that the sunrise is watched at Baekdusan Mountain and unification is greeted at Hallasan Mountain.
First Lady Kim: I have brought water from the lake on top of Hallasan Mountain. I will pour half of the bottle into Cheonji and refill the bottle with water from it.
(Unofficial translation)
President Moon: Hallasan Mountain also has its crater lake, Baengnokdam, but it is only fed by precipitation, not by groundwater like Cheonji Lake is. That is why Baengnokdam Lake dries up during droughts.
Chairman Kim: (to his aide) How deep is Cheonji Lake?
Chairman Kim’s wife Ri: It is 325 meter deep. Many legends surround Baekdusan Mountain. Some say dragons would live here before ascending to heaven, and others say 99 fairies came down here to bathe because the water was so clear. Another legend has been added because President Moon and First Lady Kim came here today.
Chairman Kim: By immersing the vision of a new history in Cheonji Lake on
Baekdusan Mountain and by ensuring that the Lake does not dry up, we must continue to write a new history of inter-Korean relations.
President Moon: As I came here this time, a new chapter was written in history. I even spoke in front of the people of Pyeongyang.
Chairman Kim’s wife Ri: I was very touched by your speech.
President Moon: During the April 27 summit, I told Chairman Kim that at the height of the Baekdusan Mountain tourism boom, many South Koreans went up the mountain from the Chinese side. Many of them still do. At that time, I pledged to climb the mountain through our territory, rather than starting out from China. I thought I would be able to do that fairly soon, but it has taken a long time. So it seemed like it could become an impossible dream. But, now, my dream has been realized.
Chairman Kim: Even though a small number of people can come here today, more people from the South as well as overseas Koreans should come and see Baekdusan Mountain. Since the division of the two Koreas, it has become a mountain that the people could only yearn to see.
President Moon: The first steps have just been taken. I believe that if these are followed by more and more steps, then many others will visit, and it won’t take long before the general public from the South can come here for sightseeing.
Chairman Kim: Would you like to walk down to Cheonji today?
President Moon: Yes. I want to dip my hand in the water unless Cheonji forbids it.
President Moon: Considering the hospitality I received today and yesterday, I must pay you back when you come to Seoul.
Chairman Kim's wife Ri: There is an old saying in our country that the sunrise is watched at Baekdusan Mountain and unification is greeted at Hallasan Mountain.
First Lady Kim: I have brought water from the lake on top of Hallasan Mountain. I will pour half of the bottle into Cheonji and refill the bottle with water from it.
(Unofficial translation)
