North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed an interest in visiting South Korea at a historic summit Friday with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in. The two leaders are taking a lunch break before resuming their talks.

Earlier Friday, the North and South Korean leaders exchanged a warm handshake over the demarcation line that divides the two countries before the beginning of the summit.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un then crossed the border with Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea.

“I am happy to meet you,” Moon said.

Kim then invited Moon to cross briefly north with him before they returned to the southern side.

It is the first time a member of the Kim dynasty has set foot on southern soil since the end of the Korean War in 1953 in the latest bid to settle the world’s last Cold War standoff.

This will be the third inter-Korean summit — the summits in 2000 and 2007 were held in North Korea.

The White House released a statement late Thursday, shortly after the two leaders shook hands.

“We are hopeful that talks will achieve progress toward a future of peace and prosperity for the entire Korean Peninsula. The United States appreciates the close coordination with our ally, the Republic of Korea, and looks forward to continuing robust discussions in preparation for the planned meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks.”

Kim and Trump are expected to meet in May or June.

People watch a TV showing a live broadcast of the inter-Korean summit, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, April 27, 2018.

Pomp and circumstance

The greeting of the two Korean leaders was planned to the last detail.

Two fifth-grade students from the Daesongdong Elementary School, the only South Korean school within the DMZ, greeted the leaders and gave them flowers. Kim and Moon then saluted an honor guard and military band, and the two leaders introduced each other to the officials accompanying them.

They were later scheduled to take a photo inside the Peace House, where the summit will take place, in front of a painting of South Korea's Bukhan Mountain, which towers over the South Korean Blue House presidential mansion.