By Seo Soo-min
Staff Reporter
The two Koreas got off to a good start at the 13th inter-Korean talks that opened in Seoul on Tuesday.
Even before its delegation had touched down at Incheon International Airport, North Korea announced from Pyonyang that it will attend a second round of six-party talks aimed at resolving the dispute over its nuclear program on Feb. 25.
This took the burden off both sides at the ministerial talks.
South Korea had been planning to try and talk the North into accepting the second six-party talks. Now, however, the South’s negotiators, headed by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, are expected to focus on inter-Korean issues at the talks, which run through Friday.
Such issues include building military confidence by resuming inter-Korean defense ministers’ talks, which were held only once in 2000.
Social and cultural exchange projects, such as how to jointly deal with China’s attempts to incorporate the ancient kingdom Koguryo into part of its history, will also be brought up at the talks.
Another round of inter-Korean family reunions will likely be arranged at the talks. And as it has in the past, North Korea is expected to ask for fertilizer and food aid.
However, Seoul officials said they will still insist that Pyongyang shows more flexibility on nuclear issue at the six-party talks starting Feb. 25.
The North’s delegation is led by Kim Ryong-song, a senior cabinet councilor. Inter-Korean ministerial talks are the highest level of dialogue between the two countries.
A plenary session is scheduled for this morning, with the two sides exchanging keynote speeches.
``We have to try and hasten to realize a constructive outcome from our meeting so as to please all Koreans,’’ the chief North Korean delegate said. ``Holding the second round of six-party talks is very important but more important is what proposal the U.S. will bring to the table.’’
In response, Jeong said, ``It is important for all sides to make efforts to produce more tangible results than in the first six-way meeting.’’
ssm@koreatimes.co.kr
