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Inter-Korean defense ministers' talks to open Monday

Posted September. 24, 2000 20:09,   

한국어

South and North Korea will hold defense ministers' talks for the first time since national division in 1945 on the southern island of Jeju-do Monday. South Korean Defense Minister Cho Seong-Tae and the North's minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il-Chol will have three rounds of meetings until Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to announce an agreement at the end of the talks.

The North Korean delegates crossed the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjeom at 3 p.m., traveled at Seoul Airport in Seongnam-si by car and finally flew into Jeju on a special Air Force plane at about 6 p.m. It is the first time since the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War for North Korean military leaders, including the minister of the People's Armed Forces, to cross the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjeom.

South Korean chief delegate Minister Cho greeted his North Korean counterpart Kim at Jeju International Airport. The two were learned to have talked in the car for about 40 minutes while traveling to Hotel Lotte Jeju, the conference site located in Jungmun Tourist Complex in Seogwipo, from the airport.

North Korea is expected to propose as major agenda for the talks military issues related to the restoration of the Seoul-Sinuiju railway (Gyeongui Line) and the construction of motorways between Munsan in the South and Gaeseong in the North.

In addition to the railroad issue, South Korea plans to suggest that the two sides discuss ways of helping build mutual military confidence such as installing military hot lines, informing the other side of massive troop movements and exercises and allowing the nations to observe each other's military drills. To support these programs, the South will propose the formation of an inter-Korean military committee and a working-level military committee.

In particular, the South will strive to hold the defense ministers' talks on a regular basis, and will promote the North hosting the second talks in Pyongyang or another location at the earliest possible date.