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Further Reading

DATE=4/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=KOREA TALKS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261455
BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South Korea's Foreign Affairs Minister 
says the June summit between North and South 
Korea could end half a century of hostilities 
between the two countries.  As Hyun-Sung Khang 
reports from Seoul, the comment came as South 
Korea proposed the two sides sit down on Saturday 
for preparatory talks on the summit. 
TEXT: South Korea has proposed working-level 
talks at the truce village of Panmunjom, located 
in the demilitarized zone, dividing the two 
Korea's.  
The proposal was made by telephone, by the Red 
Cross representative in South Korea, to his 
counterpart in the North.  The Red Cross has long 
been a conduit for communications between the two 
sides.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman says 
Pyongyang immediately accepted, but he added  
North Korea may still make counter proposals.  
North Korea is believed to prefer Beijing as a 
venue for the working level talks. 
Seoul has proposed that a five member delegation 
from each country, headed by a vice-minister, 
discuss procedural details surrounding the June 
summit, including the agenda and security issues.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Lee Joung Bin told 
reporters on Tuesday the South Korean government 
is working towards the June meeting with a deep 
sense of historic mission and achievement.  He 
says the summit could signal the end of 50 years 
of hostilities between the two countries and in 
his words, "put them on a new footing of 
reconciliation."
The planned meeting in June 12th to 14th between 
the South Korean President, Kim Dae Jung and the 
North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, will be the 
first of its kind, since the two Koreas were 
divided in 1945. In the past, North Korea has 
rejected direct contacts with the South, calling 
the Seoul government a puppet of Washington.
Technically, the two Koreas are still at war. No peace 
treaty was ever signed  following the civil conflict 
in 1950-1953. 
NEB/HSK/FC 
18-Apr-2000 04:09 AM EDT (18-Apr-2000 0809 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.