NK Delegation Arrives for S-N Minister Talks
2003-07-10
The 11th round of Inter-Korean ministerial talks will begin on Thursday (July 10) amid continuing tension over North Korea's attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
North Korean delegation, headed by cabinet councilor Kim Ryong-song, arrived in Seoul on Wednesday afternoon for the two rounds of talks. The four-day talks will discuss the suggested multilateral dialogue format to resolve the nuclear issue, a second defense ministerial meeting and inter-Korean economic cooperation.
The two Koreas agreed to hold the defense talks in November last year.
South Korean officials expect to sound out the North's position on the current nuclear tension during the meeting. The international community has pressured the Pyongyang regime to give up its nuclear ambitions.
The South Korean delegation, led by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyu, plans to urge the North to accept the suggested multilateral talks to settle the nuclear crisis.
"The longer the standstill drags on, the more harmful it will be to the inter-Korean relationship as well as the North's regime. We will bring home the message to them," said an official from the ministry.
The North Korean mission will depart Seoul on Saturday morning.
The two sides are expected to issue a joint statement on late Friday or early Saturday. But analysts say the prospects are cloudy due to the nuclear tension.
Source : www.korea.net
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