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Inter-Korean Military Working Level Talks Resumed

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

   Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- The north-south military working level talks were resumed in Panmunjom on July 16 in the wake of their session on July 10.
    The talks continued their discussion on the issue of implementing the joint press release adopted at the 5th inter-Korean general-level military talks.
    The head of the delegation from the north side Senior Colonel of the Korean People's Army Pak Rim Su said that in order to realize the joint fishing in the waters of the West Sea at an early date as desired by all the fellow countrymen, both sides should lay down among other things the principle of promoting the co-prosperity and common interests to the utmost, the principle of strictly banning foreign fishing boats' illegal fishing, the principle of ensuring peaceful and safe joint fishing and the principle of conserving and propagating the marine resources of the nation by their concerted efforts and, on this basis, should take military measures and discuss and settle other relevant issues.
    He advanced a reasonable proposal for setting up a vast expanse of waters for joint fishing from Yonphyong Islet to Paekryong Islet in the West Sea and proved at length its validity and feasibility.
    He also proposed that in order to prevent the military confrontation and clash in the waters of the West Sea the north and the south regard as the basis of their discussion the principle calling on them to remove the root cause of clash, the principle of broad-mindedly giving up each other the maritime boundary line over which they have so far conflicted with each other and recognizing and respecting each other's right to territorial waters and the principle of thoroughly implementing the inter-Korean agreements already adopted and the Armistice Agreement and fully meeting the requirements of the universally recognized law.
    He said that the south side's proposal for "building military confidence" only reveals its intention to continue maintaining the "northern limit line," root cause of confrontation and clash, and disclosed its injustice.
    Referring to the inter-Korean cooperation and exchange, he noted that it is the invariable stand of the KPA to take military measures in time for ensuring cooperation and exchange, the implementation of which is guaranteed. He urged the south side to provide the civilian ships of the north side with a military guarantee for their direct sailing into Haeju Port and full passage through the Straits of Jeju as an immediate task.
    At the talks they agreed to hold the 6th inter-Korean general-level military talks from July 24 to 26 before discussing a detailed schedule for them.