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Kim Jong Un shakes hands with South Korean leader; WATCH VIDEO

For the first time in history, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met up with the South Korean President.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into South Korea on Friday, becoming the first North Korean leader to step foot on South Korean-controlled territory.

Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook hands while standing on both sides of the military demarcation line before Moon joined Kim on the northern side of the border.

Watch VIDEO uploaded by ‘The Guardian’:

The two leaders then crossed over to the South for the summit, where they are expected to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. 

READ ALSO: North Korea nuclear test site partially collapsed: Chinese experts

The two leaders are also set to discuss a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War of the 1950s.

The summit comes as the U.S. and North Korea prepare for a potential meeting between Kim and President Trump

Following the largely symbolic move at the border on Friday local time, the U.S. voiced optimism that progress could be made on Pyongyang giving up its nuclear weapons.

“On the occasion of Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in’s historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, we wish the Korean people well. We are hopeful that talks will achieve progress toward a future of peace and prosperity for the entire Korean Peninsula,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

“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.”

READ ALSO: North Korea to freeze nuclear weapons; Donald Trump’s Twitter post

Relations between the U.S. and North Korea appear to have improved as the Trump administration pushes for the North to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Trump, who once frequently referred to Kim as “little rocket man,” called him “honorable” earlier this week. 

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