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13th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Opened

KCNA

    Seoul, February 4 (KCNA-Correspondent) -- The 13th North-South Ministerial Talks were opened in Seoul today. Present at the talks from the north side were the members of the delegation led by Kim Ryong Song, chief councilor of the DPRK Cabinet, and suite members and from the south side were the members of the delegation with Jong Se Hyon, minister of Unification, as chief delegate and suite members.
    The head of the north side and the chief delegate of the south side made keynote addresses at the talks.
    The head of the north side in his address said that last year the south side has not remained true to the basic idea of "By our nation itself" that requires the maintenance of independence as the life and soul in the inter-Korean relations, but abandoned the idea of "By our nation itself" that calls for national cooperation as the mode of existence and that there was no real cooperation between the north and the south last year.
    Noting that the current ministerial talks which may judge the prospect of inter-Korean relations this year are of greater importance than ever before, he clarified the following principled stand and immediate practical proposals of the north side for an epochal advance in the inter-Korean relations in the New Year:
    Firstly, the north and the south should display the dignity of the nation, regarding our nation-first spirit as the common mental pillar.
    Secondly, the authorities of the two sides should independently develop the north-south relations through cooperation.
    What is important in cooperation between the authorities of both sides at present is to take joint actions in preventing the danger of war and defending peace.
    As already reported, we decided to resume the six-way talks on Feb. 25 and officially made it public yesterday.
    The soon-to-be-resumed six-way talks are the results of our consistent stand and initiative efforts to settle the nuclear issue peacefully.
    We consider that if the south side truly wants a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue it will support our just proposal so as to be realized and work hard to make the United States respond to it.
    Thirdly, the authorities of both sides should promote inter-Korean economic cooperation in a responsible manner from the stand of national cooperation.
    In conclusion the head of the north side said that all the fellow countrymen hope that the authorities of both sides will independently advance the inter-Korean relations through national cooperation in the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
    He stressed that the first talks of this year should bring about the results of giving hope and conviction to the fellow countrymen.
    The talks continue.