President Roh Moo-hyun will attend the Arirang Festival during his visit to North Korea next week for an inter-Korean summit.

Top presidential security aide Baek Jong-chun told a briefing Thursday that Cheong Wa Dae decided to accept Pyongyang's proposal that the president attend the mass gymnastics performance.

Baek said that Seoul, as a guest to the summit in Pyongyang, needs to respect the host's proposal, adding that it's time for past confrontation to give way to mutual respect and acceptance.

He said that while there could be some problematic content at the festival, North Korea is known to be changing certain parts out of consideration for the South.