'I never thought I would see this in my life time': South Koreans react to historic meeting as peace appears to finally be on the horizon

Cheers outnumber jeers on streets of Seoul, but many keen for more details on denuclearisation

Pedestrians watch the inter-Korean summit on Friday in Seoul (AFP/Getty)

All day millions of Koreans hovered in front of television screens, mesmerised by the drama being enacted before them.

Some of them cheered as Kim Jong-un crossed the North-South line in the truce village of Panmunjom. A few were seen weeping. And others, of course, denounced the show as false – a game on the part of the North Korean leader to trick his host, President Moon Jae-in.

For now, however, the cheers far outnumbered the jeers as Koreans everywhere absorbed what was by any standard a highly choreographed performance in which nothing was left to chance and nothing could go wrong.

“This is unbelievable,” said Kim Ji-su, a teacher, watching breathlessly as Mr Moon escorted Mr Kim past rows of soldiers garbed in ancient Korean dynasty costume and standing at attention on either side of the red carpet leading to Peace House, where the two would be holding a summit that everyone seemed to agree was “historic.”

“I never thought I would see this in my life time,” Ms Kim gushed over the performance being enacted before her on all Korean television channels. “I can’t help crying.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) shake hands (Getty)

More calmly, while applauding the summit, others saw it as the beginning of what might well be a difficult, protracted process.

“We have a long way to go,” said office worker Park Han-jin. “We can only hope. It’s a start.”

Indeed, Mr Park anticipated “an economic boom.”

Commercial ties between Seoul and Pyongyang might now even flourish, he predicted, once rail and road traffic finally began to flow between the two Koreas.

“Someday,” he said, “we will be able to go to Europe by train” – long a dream of South Korean tycoons seeing freight traffic moving up the Korean peninsula through China and Russia.

However the two leaders were vague when it came to the details of “denuclearisation” – a problem for those who saw Mr Moon essentially falling for Mr Kim’s charm offensive.

“They didn’t get any agreement on anything,” said Maeng Ju-seok, a businessman.

“North Korea promises denuclearisation, but there’s nothing. The government gave up a lot for nothing in return.”

Jang Ki-tak, a retiree, watching the goings-on at a gathering with friends, was still stronger in his criticism.

“He’s a liar,” he said, sneering as Mr Kim’s image appeared on television. “We cannot trust communists.” As for Mr Moon, he said, “he’s also a communist.”

Such comments, though, reflected a minority view.

“Eventually denuclearisation will happen,” said Han Dang-geun, working in a convenience store. “It takes time. We have different ideas, but I believe peace will come to the Korean peninsula.”

Lee Sung-bin, 17, saw one great benefit of North-South reconciliation.

”I hope peace comes soon,” he said. “Then I won’t have to join the army."