Weekly Report on North Korea (February 23, 2007 - March 1, 2007)
ROK Ministry of Unification
Internal Affairs
- Chairman Kim Jeong-il gave on-the-spot guidance three times for the last two months at eight industrial facilities including factories, power stations, and fisheries. In this year, Chairman Kim gave on-the-spot guidance three times at industrial facilities and military installations respectively.
- Pyongyang Broadcasting Services reported on February 24, 2007 that blasting work was conducted at the construction site of waterway on the Miru Plain in North Hwanghae Province on February 23, 2007 .
Reference materials: The 20 th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks
1. Overview
The 20th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks were held from February 27, 2007 to March 2 in Pyongyang . The South and the North discussed the future direction of inter-Korean relations as well as various other pending issues and announced the six-point agreement in a joint press statement (see attached).
2. Significance and Implications
* Efforts at normalization of inter-Korean relations
One of the main concerns for the South going into the talks, which were at a standstill for the past seven months, was to normalize inter-Korean relations. The South urged the North to expeditiously implement the agreements previously reached and demanded that the North keep pace with changing circumstances surrounding the Korean peninsula and the international trend.
While the South sought to hold the ministerial talks on regular basis, it proposed the direction of inter-Korean development by seeking institutional measures for cooperation and practical solutions for humanitarian issues.
3. Major Agreements
The two Koreas agreed to:
(1) Discuss and resolve all issues concerning inter-Korean relations through governmental talks between the two sides in accordance with mutual desire and benefit of the Korean people
The two sides reconfirmed that whatever the changes in circumstances, inter-Korean dialogue must not come to a standstill again. When the talks are held on regular basis it would propel inter-Korean cooperation projects forward, and cooperation projects with institutional mechanism in place will ultimately contribute to expansion and development of inter-Korean relations; thereby creating a mutual feedback between political dialogue and economic cooperation.
(2) Make joint efforts to smoothly implement the agreements reached during the third session of the fifth round of the Six-Party Talks regarding the denuclearization and guarantee of peace on the Korean peninsula
For the implementation of the initial steps agreed in the Six-Party Talks, South Korea will provide its support for the North so that its concerns can be can be discussed and resolved in a rational manner. The South will also persuade the North to utilize the active attitudes of the other related countries.
During a meeting with the South Korean head delegate on March 1, Kim Yong Nam , President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, expressed the desire to resolve the nuclear issue by emphasizing that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is one of the last injunctions of Kim Il Sung.
(3) Actively participate in the Grand National Unification Festival as a practical step in realizing national reconciliation and solidarity
The North proposed that both Korean governments actively participate in the June 15 joint event to be held in Pyongyang as well as the Grand National Unification Festival to be held in South Korea on August 15.
Taking into consideration of agreements reached in the private sector, the two sides plan to have working-level discussion on formation of government delegations and its itineraries.
(4) Resume joint projects in the humanitarian areas and cooperate to practically resolve separated family issues
1) Begin the 5th round of video reunion from March 27 to 29 and hold the 15th round of separated family reunion in Mt. Geumgang in early May
2) Resume the construction of the separated family reunion center at an early time, and hold a working-level Red Cross contact on March 9 in Mt. Geumgang
3) Hold the 8th round of the inter-Korean Red Cross talks from April 10 to 12 in Mt. Geumgang and discuss and resolve issues of mutual concern, including the issue regarding those missing during and following the Korean War
South Korea explained to the North the reality that 4,000-5,000 members of separated families are dying of old age and illness every year. The South made its best efforts to persuade the North to accept that the only solution to the problem is to expand the exchanges of separated families in an unprecedented way.
Accordingly, the South and the North reached an agreement on resuming humanitarian cooperation, which had remained in suspension for the past seven months, and promoting dialogue and exchanges in relation to it. The two sides agreed to resume the construction of the family reunion center in Mt. Geumgang as soon as possible and to have a working-level contact between the two Red Cross societies on March 9 in Mt. Geumgang in relation to the matter.
In addition, the South repeatedly explained to the North the importance and urgency of resolving the issues involving Korean War POWs and post-war victims of abduction. Though it fully understood the South's concern, the North maintained a position that the specific measures of the issue be discussed in the Red Cross talks. Finally, the two sides agreed to hold the 8th round of Red Cross talks from April 10 to 12 to discuss and resolve various humanitarian issues, including those involving POWs and abductees.
(5) Expand and develop economic cooperation for mutual development and prosperity of the Korean people
1) Hold the 13th round of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee (IKECPC) meeting from April 18 to 21 in Pyongyang
2) Carry out test runs of trains on the inter-Korean railways within the first half of this year as soon as the military guarantee measures are put in place and hold a meeting between the members of the IKECPC.
3) Cooperate on necessary steps to revitalize the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC).
< Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee >
To discuss development and expansion of inter-Korean cooperation projects that would be beneficial to both Koreas, the two sides agreed to hold the 13th round of IKECPC meeting from April 18 to 21 in Pyongyang. The two Koreas would discuss in detail ways to promote such joint economic projects as opening of inter-Korean railways and highways, revitalization of the construction of the GIC, excavation of sand and gravel at the mouth of the Han River , cooperation on the development of North Korea 's light industry and excavation of mineral resources.
< Test run of trains >
As the two sides have already agreed to carry out test runs of trains on the inter-Korean railways within the first half of this year, the South and the North plan to discuss the related issues, including military guarantee and working-level contacts, in a meeting between the IKECPC members scheduled to be held from March 14 to 15 in Gaeseong.
< Gaeseong Industrial Complex Project >
In preparation for full-scale expansion of the GIC, including an additional lease of lands for its first-stage development, the two sides plan to utilize IKECPC talks and working-level contacts to discuss various required measures such as streamlining of customs procedures, improvement of labor management, and supply of telecommunication network.
(6) Hold the 21st Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks from May 29, 2007 to June 1 in Seoul
Having agreed to hold the 21st round of ministerial talks from May 29 to June 1 in Seoul , the two sides have laid a foundation for holding the ministerial talks on regular basis--once in each quarter.
4. Schedule of future events
Event |
Date |
Venue |
Resumption of the construction of the separated family reunion center & working-level Red Cross contact |
March 9 |
Mt. Geumgang |
Meeting between members of the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee |
March 14-15 |
Gaeseong |
5th round of video reunion |
March 27-29 |
Respective sides |
8th round of Red Cross talks |
April 10-12 |
Mt. Geumgang |
13 th round of the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee |
April 18-21 |
Pyongyang |
15th round of separated family reunion |
Early May |
Mt. Geumgang |
21st inter-Korean ministerial talks |
May 29-June 1 |
Seoul |
Test-run of railways |
1st half of 2007 |
|
/End/
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
