Koreas Struggle Over NK Nuclear Row
2003-10-17
PYONGYANG - The two Koreas remained at odds over how to resolve the lingering standoff over the North's nuclear programs at the 12th inter-Korean ministerial talks in this North Korean capital Thursday (Oct. 16).
Talks are scheduled to end on Friday, with the South Korean negotiators led by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun expected to fly back to Seoul aboard a charter jet in the afternoon. But an extension of talks is not ruled out.
A second plenary session scheduled for the morning was canceled, and the two sides only convened working-level and informal contacts to bridge differences on the agendas and produce a joint statement from the talks.
But South Korea's demand that the North refrain from acts aggravating the nuclear crisis and promise to come back to the six-way talks soon with neighbors were met by the North Korean demands that the South ban anti-North groups and repatriate more political prisoners.
The Seoul negotiator repeatedly told their Pyongyang counterparts that the level of control of anti-North protests demanded would not only contravene the 21st article of the constitution but would be unthinkable in South Korean society.
Head delegates of the two sides, Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun and North's Senior Cabinet Councilor Kim Ryong-song, met privately for one hour and a half in the morning, but officials said more discussion would be needed for a breakthrough.
“We touched upon overall pending issues between the South and North,” said Jeong to reporters, adding discussions were held in a “sincere” manner.
Despite the tug-of-war, Seoul officials said the talks were unlikely to break down, and added the next round of ministerial meetings could be agreed for January or February.
They also noted that the personal ties built-up between the two Koreas' negotiators were leading to a more constructive running of the meeting.
Although the two sides keynote speeches clashed at the first plenary session the day before, the two Koreas did not cancel the joint lunch right afterwards as would have been done in past ministerial talks.
“This is the 80th inter-Korean talks since the June 15, 2000 inter-Korean summit,” said a Seoul negotiator. “As talks are becoming more regular and confidence is built up between the negotiators, the two sides have learned to debate without emotional confrontation.”
The ministerial talks, the highest-level inter-Korean channel of dialogue besides the summit, were called to handle tourism and other economic projects but the nuclear issue was taken up as a priority.
Seoul officials believe that inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation cannot move forward unless the nuclear tension is eased quickly in a peaceful manner.
Source : www.korea.net
