DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: North and South Korea announced plans today for a historic summit between the leaders of the two countries. South Korea's president Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong- il are scheduled to meet in Pyongyang in June. This will be the first such session in more than 50 years. The summit raises hopes of improved relations and a lasting peace on the divided peninsula. The communist North and the U.S.-backed South are technically still at war. The Korean Conflict ended with an armed truce, and the two sides have never signed a permanent peace treaty. The White House says it welcomes the announcement of a summit between North and South Korea. CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us live, and he has details. Major, good morning.</s>MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, this is definitely viewed as good news here at the White House. National Security spokesman P.J. Crowley telling CNN that President Clinton, quote, "welcomes the prospect of direct dialogue and a direct meeting between the two presidents." There are also stepped up efforts to improve U.S. and North Korean relations. White House officials telling CNN this morning that they soon hope to nail down the details of a high-level talks between North Korean and U.S. officials. Those talks could occur as early a this month, possibly next month, and the meeting could in fact occur here in Washington, which would be a diplomatic breakthrough all of its own. No high-level North Korean official has visited Washington since 1953, the end of the Korean War. White House officials believe that peace between North and South Korea could improve -- could reduce tensions throughout the region. Japan, South Korea and the United States remain concerned about North Korea's ballistic missile program. In 1998, North Korea test fired a ballistic missile over Japan. For its part, North Korea would like to have increased Western aid to deal with its ongoing problems of famine, and would also like to be removed from the State Department's list of nations that support terrorism. Major Garrett, CNN, the White House. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
White House Welcomes Announcement of Summit Between North and South Korea