DATE=7/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH - SOUTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264684
BYLINE=HYUN SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: North Korea has accepted a proposal from the
South for high level talks in the South Korean
capital, later this month. The meeting will be the
first between senior officials from the two Koreas in
eight years. Hyun-Sung
Khang reports from the South Korean capital, Seoul.
TEXT: In a letter from the North Korean Prime
Minister, to his counterpart in the South, Pyongyang
said they will send a 35-member delegation to Seoul,
for three days of talks. The North Korean entourage,
led by a cabinet minister, will include five
government negotiators, ten journalists and
supporting personnel.
The meeting will discuss implementing the agreements
made between the leaders of the two Koreas, during
their unprecedented summit held last month. Following
that meeting, the Korean leaders pledged their
countries to peace
and reconciliation.
Since then, there have been rapidly warming relations
between the two cold war enemies. They have agreed to
allow an exchange of separated family members, ended
propaganda broadcasts against each other and, ahead of
this
visit by the North Korean delegation, the Foreign
Ministers from the two countries will meet in Bangkok
next week.
The two Koreas fought a bloody civil conflict between
1950 and 1953. They
now share the world's most heavily fortified border.
They remain technically in a state of war as the civil
conflict ended in a truce, rather than a peace treaty.
In recent months, there has been an unprecedented
level of diplomatic activity by North Korea, with
indications that it wants to shake off its reclusive
image and engage with the international community.
Pyongyang has either re-established diplomatic
relations or been in talks with, among others, Italy,
Australia, Japan and the United Kington. (signed)
NEB/HSK/PLM
22-Jul-2000 05:53 AM EDT (22-Jul-2000 0953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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