[Editorial] Expectations for S-N ministerial talks

The inter-Korean ministerial-level talks slated to open July 29 in Seoul are drawing a significant amount of attention, as they are virtually the first discussions between the South and the North on the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration. An unprecedented 35 delegates, including five vice minister-level officials, are coming to the South Korean capital.

First of all, we think it is quite natural that these kinds of talks should be held on a regular basis in light of the current situation on the Korean peninsula, and even more so that they result in a standing apparatus that can be put into operation at any time necessary.

Of course, it is expected that the South and North will establish working-level channels to work out follow-up measures to the ministerial-level talks.

Yet a situation could come about in which the envisioned working-level talks are unable to systematically and comprehensively address the complicated issues pending between the South and North. To prepare for this, the two sides must formulate a device that will enable them to hold ministerial-level talks at any time in order to arrive at more effective solutions.

To ensure that the agreements between the two sides are being implemented in an appropriate matter, the ministerial-level talks must be a standing apparatus.

The items on the agenda for the coming ministerial-level talks include political and military issues, economic cooperation, and social and cultural exchanges. The two sides are expected to strike agreements in these areas. The discussions are also expected to result in a detailed draft for the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration.

Such a draft is no doubt important. However, we think that the two sides need not wait for the working-level talks to deliberate on issues that they can easily reach agreements on. For instance, we expect that the South and the North will inevitably reach a consensus on such projects as the connection of the Kyongui Railway Line and anti-flood measures for the Imjin River, which are beneficial to both sides.

The two nations are also expected to reach an agreement on devices to guarantee economic cooperation, such as liquidation settlement and the prevention of double taxation, and measures to help ease tensions like the establishment of a military hotline and the normalization of the South-North liaison offices.

We hope that the two sides will create a tangible accord on these projects that can be swiftly and accurately implemented.

We also expect that the two nations will be able to arrive at a basic agreement on the locations and the dates for reunions between the divided family members of the South and the North on this occasion.

We wish to see the two sides agree this time on projects that will help them both and translate them into action, but do not want the experience of the 1992 Basic Agreement between the South and the North to be repeated. At that time, the two sides established and put into operation the political subcommittee for inter-Korean reconciliation, the military subcommittee for the promotion of non-aggression and the subcommittee for exchanges and cooperation under the Basic Agreement signed by their then prime ministers, but nothing was translated into action. Indeed, the accord ending up being little more than a mere scrap of paper. The situation is now different than it was in 1992. The two sides are cautiously building up mutual confidence in order to implement the June 15 Joint Declaration.

The South and North Korean governments must both be especially careful so that this process can develop without encountering further obstacles.