Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=9-16-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-280592

TITLE=KOREA TALKS O'NIGHTER (L)

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=SEOUL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Ministers from communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea ended a six-month break in reconciliation talks (Sunday). Seoul's representatives urged Pyongyang to keep promises made during their landmark summit last year. That summit raised hopes of improving relations between the two sides bitterly divided by the Korean and Cold wars for half a century. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.

TEXT: South Korea's delegation chief, Hong Soon-young, opened the talks by calling on the North to live up to pledges made after South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met last year in Pyongyang.

The North has not repaired promised road and rail links between the two sides or improved the process for reuniting families split by the Korean war in the early 1950's. And North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has yet to make a promised reciprocal visit to the South following the groundbreaking trip to the North by South Korea's Kim Dae-jung.

The Unification Minister Hong also complained about the North's abrupt cancellation of talks and incursions of North Korean fishing boats into South Korean waters earlier this year. The incidents boosted the South Korean President's domestic critics who say Seoul has given cash, food, and fertilizer to impoverished North Korea and gotten nothing in return.

At a picture-taking session at the beginning of the hour-long formal talks, North Korean delegation leader Kim Ryong-song said the talks are a chance to normalize North-South ties and implement previous agreements.

/// KIM RYONG-SONG ACT IN KOREAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER ///

During the meeting, Mr. Kim agreed with the South Koreans on the need to continue the talks. But it was not clear whether Pyongyang agreed to fulfil its earlier commitments.

South Korea said the two sides would not publicize details of the talks until they end Tuesday.

/// REST OPT /// In the meantime, delegates shared a meal that included roasted eel and dumpling soup, and then took a boat tour of Seoul's river front. The talks are slated to resume on Monday. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/JR/RAE