The spectacular success of the summit between North and South Korea brought an outpouring of congratulations yesterday from neighbouring countries, which in three days saw the threat of war that has hung over the region for half a century replaced by an agreement to work for reunification.
Japan's Prime Minister, Mr Yoshiro Mori, compared the event to the fall of the Berlin Wall and said it constituted a major change towards peace.
China said it "heartily rejoices at the success of the summit and wishes to express its congratulations".
The United States reacted more cautiously. President Clinton said he was pleased at the agreement reached in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, but the State Department noted that it did not negate the possible threat from North Korea's long-range missiles. Russia also cautioned that fulfilling the agreement would be very complicated.
South Korea's President, Mr Kim Dae-jung, his "sunshine policy" towards the North vindicated, returned to a rapturous welcome from thousands of cheering, flag-waving people in the southern capital, Seoul.
He told them: "A new day has dawned upon us. We have put an end to 55 years of separation and hostilities and have opened a new chapter in our nation's history."
The North Korean leader, Mr Kim Jong-il, stole the summit limelight by displaying a relaxed and affable style in his first public performance in six years at the top, according to analysts who said it changed his image across the world and made a huge impact on South Koreans.
At a final banquet, Mr Kim Jong-il had guests roaring with laughter when, referring to his wife's absence, he joked that they, too, should be counted among Korea's divided families.
In another extraordinary scene watched by incredulous South Koreans on television, the two leaders held hands around a luncheon table and sang a reunification song with officials joining in. At Pyongyang airport, Mr Kim gave his departing guest a warm hug at the steps of his aircraft.
A military brass band played and synchronised rows of North Koreans cheered, chanted and waved red and pink flowers.
President Kim said: "I am firmly convinced that the day of unification will come without fail if the South and North dedicate their minds and spirit." Korea has been divided since the aftermath of the second World War, and North and South have remained technically at war since the 195053 war ended in an armistice.
The agreement, signed late on Wednesday and sealed with a champagne toast, said the summit was of "weighty importance in promoting mutual understanding, developing inter-Korean relations and achieving peaceful reunification". It committed the sides to work together towards reunification on the basis of "common elements" in the North's proposal for federation and the South's for confederation.
They agreed to arrange exchange visits for groups of separated families by August 15th, to solve the issue of unconverted long-term prisoners, and to promote co-operation in economic, social, cultural, sports, public health and environmental fields.
President Kim said in Seoul that they had agreed to set up a direct military hot line and suspend "mutual denunciation and acts of destruction and insurrection". A rail link is also to be established. He also disclosed that the North's nuclear weapons and missile programmes had been raised, as well as the 37,000 US troops based in South Korea, and he hoped the "beneficial" conversations would bear fruit.
North Korean radio told its listeners yesterday about the summit, saying it was "a turning point in hastening national reconciliation and unity, exchange and co-operation, and peace and reunification". It described how when "Comrade Kim Jong-il" appeared at the airport, "a thunderous applause of hurrah erupted and shook the heaven and earth".