Leaders Of South, North Korea To Hold Rare Summit

Six-nation meeting today in Seoul on energy aid to North Korea (AFP) August 8, 2007 -- The leaders of North and South Korea are to hold a rare summit at the end of this month. Reports said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will meet August 28-30 in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

The summit will be only the second of its kind between the two countries' leaders, and the first in seven years.

The meeting comes at a time of optimism on the Korean peninsula, as North Korea has made strides in abandoning its nuclear-weapons program, including shutting down its sole operating nuclear reactor last month in exchange for oil aid.

The U.S. State Department has said it hopes the summit will help fulfill the goals of six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

State Department spokesperson Joanne Moore said the U.S. has long supported North-South dialogue and hopes the meeting will help promote peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

Meanwhile, negotiators began a final day of talks on providing North Korea with energy aid in exchange for disabling its nuclear facilities.

During talks on August 7, North Korea offered its gratitude for 50,000 tons of oil already given as a reward for shutting down its sole operating nuclear reactor.

(compiled from agency reports)