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Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks Held

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

   Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- The 5th north-south general-level military talks were held at Thongil Pavilion in the area of the north side at Panmunjom Tuesday.
    Present there were a delegation of the north side led by Lieut. General of the Korean People's Army Kim Yong Chol.
    Several pending issues arising in the military field including the issue of defusing military confrontation and tension and providing military guarantees for north-south cooperation and exchange were placed on the agenda of the talks.
    The head of the north side's delegation speaking at the talks referred to the lessons to be drawn from the north-south military relations in the past which underwent repeated suspension and resumption.
    If one side closes the door of dialogue, quite contrary to the desire of the nation and away from the stand of attaching importance to the nation, this will mean blocking the way of easing the military tension, he said, underscoring the need to settle all the inter-Korean military issues on the principle of putting the interests of the nation above all and protecting it.
    Should one side fail to respond to the fair and aboveboard principles and proposals that had been advanced and implement the military agreements already reached to save its face, this will make the north-south dialogue meaningless and entail very serious consequences.
    Referring to the principled stand of the north side on the tasks to be settled at the talks, he said:
    Firstly, both sides should decide on the issues of preventing clashes in the West Sea of Korea and realizing joint fishing there as early as possible as they had already been taken up.
    Secondly, both sides should take military measures, keeping pace with the reenergized inter-Korean economic cooperation and exchange.
    Thirdly, both sides should take measures to thoroughly implement the military agreements already adopted.
    A chief delegate of the south side spoke next.
    The talks continue.