DATE=4/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / SOUTH KOREA TALKS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261111
BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The leaders of South and North Korea - two
nations still technically at war -- are to hold a
summit meeting in June. As Hyun-Sung Khang reports
from Seoul, the summit, to be held in the North Korean
capital, is a landmark development in relations
between the two countries.
TEXT: /// ACTUALITY OF NORTH KOREAN BROADCAST - IN
FULL, FADE UNDER ///
News of the planned summit was broadcast on North
Korean state television and a simultaneous
announcement was also made in the South Korean
capital. The meeting, to be held in Pyongyang between
South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean
leader, Kim Jong Il, will be the first summit since
the two Koreas were divided in 1945.
South Korean Culture and Tourism minister, Park Jie-
Won, the presidential envoy who arranged the summit
with the North, told reporters it will end the Cold
War structure of confrontation and open an historic
new era of reconciliation and cooperation between the
two countries.
Mr. Park says the two leaders are expected to discuss
a range of issues, including the reunion of divided
families and inter-Korean economic cooperation. He
calls the planned June 12th to 14th meeting, "clear
evidence" that North Korea has full confidence in the
South Korean President's policy of engagement with the
North.
The announcement is particularly good news for the
South Korean President Kim, coming just days before
national legislative elections. The prospect of the
summit is likely to boost the fortunes of his New
Millennium Democratic Party. President Kim has been
under pressure for his so-called "sunshine policy",
which critics say has failed to win concessions from
the North. Some opposition politicians are calling
the summit announcement a pre-election gimmick.
The two Koreas fought a bitter civil conflict between
1950 and 1953 and continue to be technically at war,
since no peace treaty was ever signed. The two
nations are divided by the world's most heavily-
fortified border and 37-thousand U-S troops are based
in the South, to help protect against invasion.
A Korean leaders summit was scheduled for 1994, but
was cancelled at the last moment, due to the
death of then-North Korean leader, Kim Il-Sung, the
father of the current leader.
North Korea has long rejected direct dialogue with
Seoul, which it describes as a puppet of the United
States. But in recent months, the reclusive North has
demonstrated tentative signs of opening up to the
outside world.
/// REST OPT ///
News of the meeting was welcomed in Tokyo, where the
Japanese Foreign Minister, described the talks as
"epoch-making". Last week, North Korea and Japan
held their first discussions in more than seven years
on establishing diplomatic ties. In Washington, a U-S
State Department official also welcomed the summit
announcement.
But huge hurdles remain before North Korea can
establish better international relations. North
Korea's missile and nuclear programs are a source of
constant tension with Washington, Seoul
and Tokyo. And Pyongyang remains on the United States
list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
NEB/HSK/FC
10-Apr-2000 02:29 AM EDT (10-Apr-2000 0629 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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