The second summit of the two Koreas inspired hope among South Koreans of permanent peace and common prosperity on the peninsula, a leading newspaper said Wednesday.

In an article published by The Korea Herald, former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said the summit is a cornerstone for building a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula.

The South and North Korean leaders opened second summit talks on Wednesday aimed at ending half a century of hostility amid signs of progress in international efforts to shut down the North's nuclear programme. The second one started seven years later after former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, traveled to the DPRK for the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000.

With a slight smile on his face, reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il shook hands with President Roh Moo-Hyun before the meeting at the guest house in Pyongyang where Roh is staying.

Kim, who came out in person Tuesday to welcome Roh, thanked the president for crossing the world's last Cold War frontier by land, saying the symbolism was "very meaningful."

Roh, an advocate of greater engagement with the North, replied: "The people's warm welcome was very impressive and I thank you very much for appearing at the ceremony."

Seoul says peace and prosperity will be the overriding themes of this week's three-day meeting between two nations, which are still technically at war following their 1950-53 conflict.

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