10th inter-Korean ministerial talks open
KCNA
Pyongyang, April 28 (KCNA) -- The 10th inter-Korean ministerial talks were held here on Sunday.
Present at the talks were members and suites of the north side's delegation led by chief councillor of the DPRK cabinet Kim Ryong Song and the south side's delegation with Minister of Unification Jong Se Hyon as its chief delegate.
Kim Ryong Song in his keynote speech said that after the ninth round of the talks in January, the internal and external situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula has been very complicated and that the united states has escalated the moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK over the "nuclear issue" while seriously threatening the Korean nation's sovereignty and peace in the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, an anti-DPRK campaign has become undisguised in South Korea, he noted.
In fact, he said, under the present situation there is no more urgent task than to reject the unilateral strong-arm action of foreign forces, defend the dignity and sovereignty of the nation and prevent the danger of war and protect peace of the country by the united efforts of all the Koreans.
The historic June 15 joint declaration is a landmark for reunification common to the nation which was provided by the top leaders of the north and the south of Korea and has been confirmed in practice, he said, and stressed: the joint declaration based on the idea "by our nation itself" should be carried forward and implemented to the letter.
Then, he set forth the north side's proposal with a view to taking practical measures.
The proposal called for reaffirming the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and confirming again before the whole nation their will to implement the declaration. It also called for discontinuing TV broadcasting against each other and radio propaganda in the areas along the demarcation line. The north side suggested the authorities of both sides to push ahead with the June 15 Grand Festival for National Reunification this year, which has already been agreed upon and is now being prepared at a non-governmental level and regularize it as a bigger festival attended by the authorities as well as non-governmental organizations.
It was also proposed that both sides should significantly hold ground-breaking ceremonies for connecting rail and road links in the east and west coastal areas and for the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone before the third anniversary of the joint declaration. The proposal called on the authorities of the north and the south to push ahead in a responsible manner with a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a reunion centre for separated families and relatives in Mt. Kumgang, which the red cross organizations of both sides had agreed to push, so that the ceremony may take place at an early date.
He also proposed to decide as soon as possible on the passage of each side's civilian ships through each side's territorial waters which both sides had agreed to push forward and on the south side fishermen's use of part of the north side's fishing ground in the east sea, and consult and settle the measures to press forward tour of Mt. Kumgang and other ongoing economic cooperation between non-governmental organizations of both sides. It was proposed that the south side should take a responsible step to ensure smooth progress of a series of projects the north side's Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee had agreed with the south side's Hyundai Asan to carry out.
At the talks, Jong Se Hyon made an address clarifying the south side's stand on the talks.
The talks continue.
