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First Round of Inter-Korean Premier Talks Opens

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

   Seoul, November 14 (KCNA Correspondent) -- The first round of the inter-Korean premier talks was opened here on Wednesday.
    Present there from the north side were Premier of the Cabinet Kim Yong Il and his party and from the south side Prime Minister Han Tok Su and those concerned.
    At the talks Kim Yong Il said that what is important is for the north and the south to uphold and implement the June 15 joint declaration, to begin with, and hold fast to the principle of giving importance to the dignity and interests of the nation and making everything serve it.
    For the Koreans to pool their will and efforts provides a sure guarantee for implementing the joint declaration, Kim said, adding: Proceeding from such viewpoint, the north and the south should promptly take positive steps to put into practice the matters specified in the points of the declaration, including matters of commemorating June 15, refraining from interfering in each other's internal affairs and adjusting the legal and institutional mechanisms in favor of national reunification.
    The north and the south should positively reenergize and steadily expand and develop cooperation projects for the uniform development of the nation's economy and the co-prosperity on the principle of ensuring common prosperity and interests and mutual accommodation, as enshrined in the October 4 declaration, he said, referring to specific tasks for carrying out cooperation projects in economic, social, cultural and humanitarian and other fields and ways to do so.
    If the October 4 declaration is to be successfully implemented, it is necessary for both sides to have a proper way of thinking, understanding and basic stand, among other things, and build, first of all, a new system and order as required by the new century and changed circumstances, he said, and went on:
    The inter-Korean cooperation can make smooth progress only when both sides respect each other's systems because of the differing political, economic and social and cultural systems that exist in the north and the south.
    Cooperation projects can make dynamic progress to bring earlier the era of peace and prosperity only when the inter-Korean relations are definitely turned into those of mutual respect and trust.
    What is important next is for the north and the south to show their will to implement the declaration in practical deeds, not in words, he noted, declaring that the north would fulfill its mission and responsibility to implement the declaration in the future, too.
    The prime minister of the south side, addressing the talks, said that the publication of the June 15 joint declaration was a great historical event that ushered in the era of peace and co-existence between the south and the north.
    Referring to the achievements made in developing the inter-Korean relations since the publication of the joint declaration, he expressed the hope that the talks would prove to be a constructive dialogue which will result in bringing about a productive agreement. He clarified the stand of the south side for implementing the October 4 declaration.
    The talks will continue till Nov. 16.
    The prime minister of the south side gave a reception for Premier Kim Yong Il and his party in the evening.