The first summit was held June 13–15, 2000, in Pyongyang. Kim Jong-il, the North Korean supreme leader, met with Kim Dae-jung, the South Korean president at the time, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts as this summit occurred seemingly as a result of his Sunshine Policy, which South Korea maintained until President Lee Myung Bak adopted a more hardline position against North Korea.
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It was the first Inter-Korean summit meeting after Korean war, and as a result of the talks, the June 15 joint declaration was announced on the last day. On December 25, 2000, the Associated Press of the United States Associated Press published the "Top 10 News in 2000", which ranked 5th was the South–North Korea summit. The inter-Korean talks continued, and North Korea negotiated with normalization of relations with Japan and the United States while maintaining a reconciliation atmosphere. Kim Jong Il's early visit to Seoul was foreseen, but it was not realized due to the sudden change of international situation. In accordance with the North–South Joint Declaration arising from the first Inter-Korean summit, the North-South ministerial and military working-level talks were held four times in Pyongyang, Seoul and Jeju Island from July to December 2000. These also involved North–South Red Cross talks and several working-level contacts for North and South economic cooperation, continuing until March 2007. Kim Dae Jung, the South Korean president at the time, received the Nobel Peace Prize for successfully arranging the summit.
However, the South Korean Government paid North Korea approximately US$500 million to attend the Summit. This payment was kept secret at the time and only emerged three years later, causing a major political scandal called the Cash-for-summit scandal. It was later discovered that South Korea had secretly paid the North Korean Government $200 million to attend, and because of this issue 6 South Korean businessmen and officials were convicted. In August 2000, after over 50 years of separation, some members of separated families and relatives in the North and South had a reunification meeting with each other in Pyongyang and Seoul. Subsequent Inter-Korean summit talks were held and the June 15 North–South Joint Declaration was adopted.
South and North Korea are to work for mutual respect and trust in order to overcome differences in ideology, system.
South and North Korea are to ease military tensions, hold defense ministerial talks in November in Pyongyang to discuss ways of supporting inter-Korean economic cooperation and easing tension.
The two sides agree on the need to end the current armistice and establish permanent peace.
The two sides are to create a special peace zone around Haeju in North Korea and nearby areas.
South and North Korea are to develop cooperation in the history, language, education, technology, culture, sports, and social sectors.
South and North Korea are to actively push for humanitarian cooperation and expansion of the reunions of separated families.
South and North Korea are to strengthen cooperation for national interest in the international stage and the benefits of Korean residents abroad.
