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14th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Open

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

    Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The 14th north-south ministerial talks were opened here today. At the talks Kwon Ho Ung, chief councilor of the DPRK Cabinet, who is the head of the north side's delegation and Jong Se Hyon, minister of Unification, who is chief delegate of the south side made keynote speeches.
    Kwon Ho Ung elaborated that the joint military exercises the south side stages with the U.S. are a main factor of straining the overall situation on the Korean peninsula and jeopardizing the inter-Korean relations.
    The era after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration requires the Koreans to solve all issues by their concerted efforts, he said, adding that it is something beyond imagination that the south side, which has a commitment to national cooperation, is militarily cooperating with the outsiders against the fellow countrymen.
    If the south side has a true willingness to have dialogue with the north side and seek a negotiated settlement of the issues of exchange, cooperation and military talks, it should strictly abide by the principle of national cooperation in the idea of "By our nation itself," he contended.
    Accusing an official concerned of the Ministry of Unification of the south side of pulling up the north when the 9th reunion of separated families and relatives was underway, he dismissed this as a negation to the June 15 joint declaration provided by the heads of the north and the south and a blatant challenge to the points agreed upon by both sides to recognize and respect idea and system of the other side.
    Reiterating the unshakable stand of the north not to compromise with such attitude of the south side, Kwon strongly demanded the south side take a corresponding measure to prevent the recurrence of what happened.
    Recalling that the south side has not yet stopped the broadcasting hurling mud at its dialogue partner and even started recently new broadcasting which specializes in malignantly slandering the north, he urged the south side to clearly express its will to stop those smear broadcasting services.
    The talks continue.