Assembly speaker calls meeting and handshake with N. Korean leader an achievement

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is back here in Seoul from Beijing having attended China's Victory Day Parade on behalf of the South Korean government.

Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports.

After attending China's Victory Day ceremony as South Korea's representative, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik returned home on Friday, saying there had been progress in strengthening Korea-China cooperation and even some unexpected gains for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"It seems there was some progress in improving Korea-China cooperation, which was our original goal, and I think this could open up a new opportunity. I believe there was some unexpected progress for peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Regarding his encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, Speaker Woo said that just being able to meet and shake hands was already an achievement, adding that many had thought the chances of meeting Kim before his trip to Beijing were very low.

This echoes what he said at a press conference in China the day before.

"It was hard to have a full discussion, which I find a bit regrettable, but given the current state of inter-Korean relations, I think even a brief meeting was still meaningful."

Woo left for Beijing on Tuesday evening to attend the military parade, and the next day, he was seen shaking hands with the North Korean leader.

According to the National Assembly Speaker's office, Woo told Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the event, that he hopes the South and North will usher in an era of peace and prosperity and work toward building peace on the Korean Peninsula.

He also mentioned that South Korea is hosting next year's UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, and asked Putin to convey to Kim his hope to visit North Korea's Mount Kumgang, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.