2007년 정상회담 참석 차 북한을 방문한 고 노무현 대통령이 북한군 의장대 사열을 받고 있다.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun (center) inspects a North Korean honor guard during his visit to North Korea in October 2007. (Inter-Korean Summit Preparation Committee)

By Sohn JiAe and Kim Young Shin 

Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un, the first ever North Korean leader to visit Korean territory, will be invited to inspect an official Korean military honor guard.

“At the 2000 and 2007 Inter-Korean Summits, former President Kim Dae-jung and former President Roh Moo-hyun were invited to inspect a North Korean honor guard,” said the Ministry of National Defense. “In a wish for a settlement and peace on the Korean Peninsula, for the restoration of trust between the South and the North, and for a successful outcome at the third Inter-Korean Summit, we will have honor guard from the triservices to pay respect to the two earlier Korean summits.”

“In the past, even during the Cold War and severe conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the U.S. and China, each party invited the leader of the other side to inspect the guard of honor,” explained the official from the ministry.

According to the ministry, the inspection of the honor guard will be held at a reduced scale due to the size and geographical features of the Panmunjeom truce village.

jiae5853@korea.kr