김정은, 방한 성사되면 서울에 방문하는 첫 북한 지도자

One of the six agreements the two Korean leaders reached during their latest summit stood out for a number of reasons.
It states Kim Jong-un would try to visit the South this year.
Hong Yoo zooms in on the significance of this promise.

"I promised President Moon that I would visit Seoul in the near future."

With that the North Korean leader hinted at a possible visit to the South Korean capital.

He made the announcement at the press briefing that followed the signing of the Pyeongyang Joint Agreement on Wednesday.

And his plans to visit the South were also included in that agreement made between the two leaders.
President Moon added that the visit is likely to take place within this year.
If Kim does make the trip, he will be the first North Korean leader to visit Seoul and that would be a landmark moment for inter-Korean relations.

During the 2000 inter-Korean summit, then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had also promised then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung that he would visit South Korea.
But that plan fell apart.

At the 2007 Inter-Korean Summit, when the two Koreas reached the 10.4 Agreement, Kim Jong-il only agreed to "constantly meet to discuss pending problems" without any promises to make a trip to Seoul.

Therefore, Kim's announcement came as a surprise.

"I was talking with an important figure from the Unification Front Department and according to him, everyone was against Kim Jong-un visiting Seoul. So it was solely Kim's decision and no one was able to stop him. It looks like they are really worried."

Kim Jong-un's decision to visit Seoul despite all the opposition hints at his willingness to take the inter-Korean relations a step further and that the visit may actually happen this time.
Hong Yoo, Arirang News.