North Koreans learned about the three summits between President and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year through media coverage. Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

For North Koreans, a series of summits between leaders of the two Koreas this year certainly challenged and reshaped what they previously thought of the South.

No leaders of the two Koreas met each other more than once in their lifetime, until North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met President Moon Jae-in three times this year ― in April, May, and September.

Kim even became the first North Korean leader to cross the border, when he met Moon on the South Korean side of Panmunjeom during their April meeting.

While two late presidents ― Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun ― visited Pyongyang during their terms, Moon's third summit was seen unique because he gave a live speech before 150,000 citizens.

Most importantly, the reclusive state allowed media coverage of the Moon-Kim summits, giving the people a chance to see the two leaders smiling, hugging and pledging commitment for peace, denuclearization, and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

All this came after Pyongyang ratcheted up belligerent rhetoric against Seoul until 2017, as it did for decades as part of its propaganda.

"The people had been skeptical about the April summit, given that inter-Korean ties made little progress despite two past summit involving Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun," a source familiar with North Korea said. "And they are now optimistic about unification."

Another source echoed a similar view.

"Many have been saying the two Koreas will be united eventually unless the United States interferes, since Kim and Moon met for the second time in May," it said.

It referred to the U.S. scrapping the planned summit between Kim and President Donald Trump, although they eventually met in Singapore, June 12.

The second Moon-Kim meeting was abruptly scheduled as part of efforts for Moon to mediate between Washington and Pyongyang.

"The people began to appreciate Moon for sincerely caring about inter-Korean relations. When they saw Moon and Kim hugging each other at Tongilgak, they thought of Moon as a leader 'truly committed to bringing the people of the two Koreas together.'"

The North Koreans found Moon's speech in Pyongyang impressive as well.

"Even leaders of communist states did not give speeches in front of that many people," the third source said. "This symbolized a transition for a new era on the peninsula."

The audience also found it interesting when Moon stressed he and Moon pledged to free the peninsula from the threat of nuclear weapons and pass it onto future generations.

"The people had taken it for granted that nuclear weapons are essential for North Korea's sake, and otherwise there would be war with the U.S.," a source said.

It added the people do not question Kim Jong-un's leadership even if the North is denuclearized, saying "They believe the supreme leader is capable of everything and trust him."