17th North-South Ministerial Talks Close
Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)
Jeju Island, December 16 (KCNA) -- The 17th North-South Ministerial Talks were held on Jeju Island from Dec. 13, 2005, to Dec.16. According to a joint press release announced at the talks, both sides positively assessed the development of the inter-Korean relations this year which witnessed a new turning point in the efforts to implement the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. They have agreed on the following points, proceeding from their common understanding and will to develop the inter-Korean relations on a new higher stage in the new year 2006: 1. The north and the south shared the understanding that they should recognize and respect each other's ideology and system guided by the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration, away from the outdated conception dating back to the era of confrontation obstructive to national reconciliation and unity, and decided to take practical measures in that respect.
2. The north and the south shared the view that the joint statement adopted at the 4th round of the six-party talks should be implemented as early as possible for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and decided to positively cooperate with each other to ensure that the nuclear issue is settled peacefully for the security and interests common to the nation.
3. The north and the south agreed to make positive and substantial efforts to ease the military tension and ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, both sides agreed to recommend each other's military authorities to make sure that the talks between the military authorities will be held in the earliest possible period in the new year.
4. The north and the south agreed to expand and develop the inter-Korean economic cooperation on a new stage for the interests and prosperity common to the nation and the balanced and uniform development of the national economy.
First, both sides agreed to take substantial measures to expand investment and cooperation in terms of area and types and scale of business on the principle that the economic cooperation between the north and the south is the cooperation undertaking made by Koreans.
Second, both sides shared the understanding that it is necessary to rapidly push forward the second-phase development of the Kaesong Industrial Zone and such projects as arrangements for transit, custom clearance, telecommunication and trial operation of railways on the eastern and western coasts and decided to discuss and settle the issues related to them through the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation.
5. The north and the south agreed to positively push ahead with the humanitarian work on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.
First, both sides agreed to open Red Cross talks within February 2006 with a view to discussing and settling the humanitarian issues of mutual concern. Second, both sides agreed to arrange the 4th video meeting between separated families and relatives around the end of February 2006 and the 13th reunion of separated families and relatives around the end of March. 6. The north and the south agreed to actively help each other so that the International Taekwon-Do Federation and the World Taekwon-Do Federation may closely cooperate with each other for the uniform development of Taekwon-Do, a national martial art.
7. The north and the south agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to have historic relics in the area of Kaesong registered as world cultural heritages and preserve and take care of them.
8. The north and the south decided to take steps to transfer as early as possible the "monument to the victory in the battle in the northern area of Korea," which was retrieved from Japan, to the area of the north where it had stood.
9. The north and the south agreed to hold the 18th North-South Ministerial Talks in Pyongyang from March 28, 2006, to March 31.
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