North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shattered his enigmatic image when he openly stepped in front of the TV cameras recording the historical meeting between him and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung on Tuesday.
The mysterious leader has been characterized as a hermit, womanizer, terrorist and kidnapper -- images that have contrasted with his easy-going, talkative and even statesman-like behavior of the past two days.
Dressed in a grey, button down Mao-style suit, Kim Jong-il was all smiles during the second day of summit talk with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung yesterday.
PHOTO: AP
The North Korean leader raised a burst of laugher when he said he is not living in seclusion as many Europeans have reported, "I have made many secret trips to China and Indonesia."
"Some people have said it was the first time I appeared in public yesterday at the airport," Kim Jong-il said. "Thanks to you, I think your visit made me break out of seclusion," he joked. "I am not such a great figure worthy of being called a recluse."
The two leaders also chatted about Kimchi, Korea's best known cuisine abroad.
The South Korean president said he had some cold buckwheat noodles for lunch, arguably North Korea's most renowned dish.
North Korea's Kim, speculating that his South Korean guest may have had to rush through his meal, said: "You have to slow down when you eat buckwheat noodles."
Known for his secretive image, the North Korean leader is rarely seen before the cameras.
But a historical handshake with the South Korean president on Tuesday beamed across TV screens worldwide and his casual and jocular manner yesterday is transforming his rogue image in Seoul.
"I always thought of him as a looser with a complex, but seeing him on TV has really changed my image of him," said 29-year-old Kong Kyung-ah.
"He behaved like the guy next door and appeared normal," Kong said.
Kim Jong-il appeared comfortable and spoke in a booming voice in contrast with the seemingly fatigued South Korean president.
The North Korean leader took over the reign of his father, Kim Il-sung -- also known as the "Great Leader" -- when the former communist leader passed away in 1994.
The stout, junior Kim, with a pouch and bad hair, was thought to lack the commanding stature of Kim Il-sung.
But his confident behavior during the summit is transforming his image from one of a weak, second-class heir to that of a statesman.
"I always thought he had an inferiority complex and lived under the shadow of his father, but he showed himself capable of being a leader," Kong said.
However, despite what appears be the opening-up of Kim Jong-il, Pyongyang remains as tightly controlled as ever.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, the 50-member South Korean press corps are not allowed out of their hotels and are barred from talking to North Korean citizens.
Pyongyang officials told the reporters that meeting with its citizens is against the summit agreement.
No foreign media was allowed to cover the inter-Korean summit, only Chinese journalists have first-hand coverage of the event.
In North Korea, news of the summit is reported by Rodong Shinmun, the newspaper operated by the North Korean Workers (Communist) Party.
Pyongyang citizens were able to see the arrival of Kim Dae-jung on TV, but contents of his written statements were neither published nor broadcast.
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