CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: To Asia now, and a major political development on the Korean peninsula: This morning, North and South Korea announced their leaders will hold an unprecedented summit in June. In the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, the first meeting between heads of the two states since the peninsula was divided back in 1945. The Koreas have never signed a peace treaty, and the meeting is seen as a first step toward easing tensions and normalizing relations. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has long advocated closer ties with the North and has actively engaged the North since becoming president. North Korean's leader, Kim Jong Il, is facing a prolonged famine and economic isolation. China and Japan call the summit a positive development. The White House says it welcomes the news as well. White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us with more. Good morning, Major.</s>MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well, what is being viewed as good news on the Korean peninsula is also seen here at the White House as good news for U.S. policy throughout the region. 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, South Korea's Kim Dae-jung and North Korea's Kim Jong Il." Last year, President Clinton dispatched former Defense Secretary William Perry to re-evaluate U.S. relations with North Korea. He sent the North Koreans an outlined that called for better relations between North and South. There are 37,000 U.S. service personnel on the 38th parallel, the geographic dividing line that separates communist North for capitalist South. North Korea has long been an enigma to U.S. policymakers, secretive and militarist, it is on the State Department's list of nations that sponsor terrorism. The U.S. hopes that those issues can be resolved if, in fact, North and South can reconcile. Major Garrett, CNN, the White House. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
White House Welcomes North Korea-South Korea Summit