The DMZ is considered one of the most dangerous places on earth, with heavily-armed North and South Korean forces aligned against one another. The two have remained in a formal state of war since an armistice ended combat in the Korean War in 1953.
The White House says while in South Korea, Mr. Obama will hold various bilateral meetings, including talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Mr. Obama also plans to meet with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Turkey on the sidelines of the summit. He is also expected to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to review efforts to support an Afghan-led reconciliation process with the Taliban.
South Korea Saturday welcomed President Obama's nomination of Jim Yong Kim, Korean-born president of Dartmouth College, to head the World Bank.