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12th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Close

KCNA

    Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The 12th North-South Ministerial Talks that were opened in Pyongyang on Oct. 14 were closed on Oct. 17. At the talks our side called for offering and reaching an agreement on practical proposals arising in north-south relations such as the issue of stopping the north and south from impairing and insulting the system of the other party contrary to the June 15 joint declaration, the issue of stopping broadcasting slander toward the other party in the forefront area, the issue for the authorities of both sides to step up the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone, one of the work for unified development of the national economy and the issue of sending back this year all the unconverted long-term prisoners in the area of the south side who want their repatriation to the north and completing the construction of a meeting house of separated families and relatives at the Mt. Kumgang resort till Harvest Moon Day next year in order that both sides should settle the humanitarian question.
    But the practical matters for development of inter-Korean relations failed to be settled at the talks owing to the opposition of the south side.
    A joint press release was made public at the talks.
    According to it, at the talks both sides fully expressed the stand of each other on the urgent matters and made exhaustive discussions and agreed to continue cooperation in order to achieve peace on the Korean peninsula and promote reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south in the basic spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
    The north and the south agreed to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation and hold the 7th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation early in November, 2003 in Pyongyang.
    They also agreed to hold the 13th inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul from Feb. 3 to 6, 2004.