Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=09/06/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KOREA'S / TALKS (S)

NUMBER=2-280100

BYLINE=AMY BICKERS

DATELINE=TOKYO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The South Korean Government has proposed ministerial talks with North Korea, beginning later this month. As V-O-A's Amy Bickers reports from Tokyo, the offer comes several days after the North suddenly announced that it wanted to end a six-month freeze on official contacts.

TEXT: Seoul officials said Thursday the government requested new ministerial talks with Pyongyang start as early as September 15th. The proposal is a response to an offer from North Korea, Sunday, to reopen stalled inter-Korean reconciliation process.

South Korea's acceptance of the North's offer comes after days of political squabbling in Seoul threatened President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement with the North. Monday, parliament gave a no-confidence vote to a minister in charge of the South's policies toward the North. This led to the resignation of the South Korean cabinet.

Inter-Korean contacts came to a halt early this year, amid increased tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over a suspension of negotiations with the North.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said Thursday's offer was made by telephone at the Panmunjom truce village on the heavily fortified frontier between the two nations. It is the only official point of contact for the two sides, which remain technically at war. (Signed)

NEB/HK/AB/HB