Results of the lst Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks
ROK Ministry of Unification
2004-05-28
1. Progress
o February 6, 2004
The South and the North, during the 13th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks, agreed on "holding inter-Korean military authorities talks soon in order to ease military tension on the Korean Peninsula"
o February 12, 2004
The South sent a telephone notification to the North, proposing "the 1st Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks"
* The South proposed to hold military talks led by two-star generals as head delegates on February 23 in ¡¸The House of Peace¡¹located in the South Korean part of Panmunjom
o February 7, 2004
The South and the North, during the 14th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks, agreed on holding Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks
* They issued a joint press statement on the agreement of holding inter-Korean military authorities talks
o May 12, 2004
The North, through telephone notification, proposed having South-North liaison officers' contact in order to confirm the holding of the 1st Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks on May 26, 2004, and discuss specific procedures.
o May 14, 2004
The South and the North, through the South-North liaison officers' contact, discussed official name, venue and schedule of the talks, and formation of delegation.
o May 25, 2004
The South and the North exchanged lists of delegations
* The South : Commodore Jeong-hwa Park (head delegate), Navy Colonel In-soo Im, Colonel Seong-mook Moon, Colonel Yong-do Jeong, Section Chief of Unification Ministry Kwang-bok Bae
* The North : Director of Ministry of the People's Armed Forces Ik-san Ahn (head delegate), Senior Colonel Yong-chul Yoo, Senior Colonel Sang-nam Kim, Colonel Kyung-sam Bae, Colonel Ki-yong Park
o May 26, 2004, 10:00
The South and the North held the 1st Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks in Mt. Geumgang
2. Outline of the talks
¡à The South and the North exchanged their respective positions on measures for easing military tension including measures for preventing accidental naval clashes in the West Sea.
o The South, in its keynote speech, pointed out that though inter-Korean relations have made some progress in economic, social and cultural areas since the historic June 15 Joint Declaration, the two Koreas have yet to make real progress in the military area.
- The South also stressed that the Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks should serve as an opportunity to consult on real measures to ease military tension on the Korean Peninsula
- The South said that one of the most urgent issues of the talks is to draw up measures on preventing accidental naval clashes in the West Sea.
- The South also proposed specific measures such as: a) setting up and operating a military hot line between the naval fleets in the West Sea; b) designating and using the same frequency between naval vessels in the West Sea; c) designating and using visual signs between naval vessels; d) exchanging information on regulating illegal fishing
o The North claimed that military authorities of the two Koreas must carry out their roles and responsibilities to the full in implementing the military agreement and the June 15 Joint Declaration
- The North also argued that one of the most urgent issues was to stop propagandas in the cease fire area and to discuss ways of eliminating tools used for propaganda
¡à The South and the North agreed on holding the 2nd Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks on June 3 in Mt. Seorak, South Korea.
o The South and the North agreed to review issues proposed by each other in the talks and continue their consultations in the next round of talks
3. Evaluation and Future Direction
o Though the talks produced no tangible results, it is meaningful that the two Koreas had an opportunity to increase understanding of their respective positions
- Based on the mutual understanding, the South and the North will engage in serious consultations starting from the next round of military talks
o During the 2nd Inter-Korean General-level Military Talks being held on June 3 in Mt. Seorak, South Korea, the two Koreas will, first of all, make efforts to draw up measures on preventing accidental naval clashes in the West Sea.
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