Introduction In June 2000, South Korea and North Korea achieved a historic milestone with the first-ever Inter-Korean Summit. This unprecedented meeting between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il marked a dramatic shift in relations on the Korean Peninsula after decades of hostility, division, and military tension. Background: Decades of Division Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula had remained divided, heavily militarized, and politically frozen. Communication between the two Koreas was minimal, and mutual distrust defined their relationship for nearly half a century. The Sunshine Policy, introduced in 1998, laid the groundwork for dialogue by promoting engagement, humanitarian cooperation, and confidence-building measures rather than confrontation. The 2000 Pyongyang Summit From June 13 to June 15, 2000, President Kim Dae-jung visited Pyongyang, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so. His...
Introduction In June 2000, South Korea and North Korea achieved a historic milestone with the first-ever Inter-Korean Summit. This unprecedented meeting between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il marked a dramatic shift in relations on the Korean Peninsula after decades of hostility, division, and military tension. Background: Decades of Division Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula had remained divided, heavily militarized, and politically frozen. Communication between the two Koreas was minimal, and mutual distrust defined their relationship for nearly half a century. The Sunshine Policy, introduced in 1998, laid the groundwork for dialogue by promoting engagement, humanitarian cooperation, and confidence-building measures rather than confrontation. The 2000 Pyongyang Summit From June 13 to June 15, 2000, President Kim Dae-jung visited Pyongyang, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so. His...