A delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul on Aug. 12-14 arrived at the Inchon International Airport Monday via the direct air route.
The 29-official delegation is led by DPRK Chief Cabinet Councilor Kim Ryong-song.
In an arrival declaration, Kim Ryong-song said the coming talks will not only discuss issues, but should also reach some substantial agreements.
The two sides will work in the spirits of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration reached in 2000, Kim said.
The talks, the first since last November, are to cover various aspects including the reunion of separated families, economy, military and sports.
The two sides will coordinate the date for the opening of the second two-way economic cooperation talks and review the issues of inter-Korean railways and roads, the construction of an industrial complex in the DPRK city of Kaesong, the provision of 30,000 tons of rice on credit to the DPRK, and joint measures to prevent floods along the Imjin River.
They will decide on a date for inter-Korean military talks, in which the officers are to find ways to prevent the recurrence of incidents like the June 29 maritime skirmish in the Yellow Sea.
The two sides will touch the second bilateral cabinet-level talks, whose purpose is to activate the suspended Mount Geumgang tour project.
They will also discuss issues of DPRK's participation in the coming Asian Games. Last Friday, DPRK Olympic Committee officially notified the south that it would participate in the games and proposed a working-level meeting at Mount Geumgang of DPRK to work on details of the issue.
( August 12, 2002)
|