Inter-Korean Summit: Anticipation for the historic meeting is high

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Anticipation for the upcoming summit between the DPRK and ROK is high. Many hope this marks a start to normalizing relations. But there's also some skepticism. Gary Anglebrandt has more.

There is the place where DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will sit down for a historic meeting.

Everything here is symbolic, for instance, a drawing of Mount Kumgang, and chairs showing the peninsula territory, not to mention the unification flags flying outside.

Anticipation for the summit is high.

CHUNG DONG-YOUNG FORMER SOUTH KOREAN UNIFICATION MINISTER "In the past ten years, relations between the two countries went backwards, they were hostile. This summit is of great significance as it's getting relations back on the right track."

YOON YOUNG KWAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER, PROFESSOR AT SEOUL NAT'L UNIV. "The two countries have been gradually building an atmosphere for negotiation since the beginning of this year. The summit is a turning point for the two sides to open a door of peace, and to normalize ROK-DPRK relations. It's very meaningful, and hopefully it can achieve success."

This is not the first time for the two countries to hold a summit, but the first to be held on the South Korean side. The two previous summits, in 2000 and 2007, were both held in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un will cross the inter-Korean border on foot, becoming the first DPRK leader to have stepped on South Korean soil since the end of fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. But will there be substantial changes? South Koreans differ on their feelings about the summit.

JOO OK-SOON SOUTH KOREAN PROTESTER "Kim Jong Un is saying he will complete denuclearisation and close the Pungye-ri (nuclear test site) through the inter-Korean summit, but we cannot believe it. We also view the summit very negatively because we don't think it will be held properly."

KIM CHANG-HWAN, SECRETARY GENERAL INSTITUTE FOR TRADITIONAL KOREAN CULTURAL STUDIES "As President Moon Jae-in gets ready to hold the inter-Korean summit, we are so pleased to hear about the agenda which includes changing the armistice agreement into a peace treaty and declaring the end of the Korean War. There was no other way to express our happiness, so we are gathering here at Gwanghwamun."

A recent survey reported by Yonhap news agency shows a little over half of the interviewees think there will be better relations after the summit, while some 40 percent don't think things will change much. We'll have a better idea in a few days, following Friday's big event. Gary Anglebrandt, CGTN.