[Editorial] Meeting scores a 10; results a 5

Although the just-completed first round of talks between the two Korea¡¯s defense ministers, as well as another for working-level economic cooperation, have fallen short of expectations, they represent important initial steps in the right direction.

In the case of the defense ministerial talk, the fact that two such men related to the military came together at a table to formulate a joint press statement is in itself of great significance. It is an important first step for the military to agree on cooperation to guarantee civilian interchange and cooperation, as well as an agreement to make a joint effort to alleviate the threat of war and ease tensions.

However, a problem lies in the fact that there aren't any concrete measures to back up the joint agreement.

In connection to the cross-border inter-Korean railway, it is highly significant to open a part of the DMZ to designate an area of joint authority around the railway connection, according to the truce agreement. It is the first time that a part of the non-truce DMZ area has become designated for joint cooperative authority.

However, the details of the agreement reveal that the agreement concerning the cross-border railway reconnection has mostly adhered to the demands of the North Korea, while the confidence-building measures proposed by the South have been largely ignored. It is a shame that the two sides could not make any progress toward formulating any tangible measures for the easement of military tension, such as the establishment of a hotline between the South¡¯s and the North¡¯s military heads, the agreement for the mutual notification of military exercises, and the exchange of military inspectors.

In addition, although the details for the reconstruction of the railway connection will be handled by the militaries, it is odd that they disagreed on the use of the title, Joint Military Committee. It appears as though the North opposes such formation as a committee.

To offset the criticism that the South's government has yielded to the North's requests in this round of talks, the South needs a well-prepared negotiation agenda for the easing of military tension, as well as the regularization of talks, at the next scheduled second round of talks in November in North Korea.

The progress made by the inter-Korean economic cooperation talks delegation for the speedy establishment of systemic measures to guarantee and safeguard the South's investment in the North and prevention of double taxation measures is an important step in the economic sphere.

Although the North has similar agreements with 21 or so other nations, South Korea's greater assertiveness and proximity to the North makes it a matter of time before such cooperative measures become concrete.

Even so, the postponement of the actual agreement for the next round gives rise to a suspicion of it being contingent on food aid for the North. If such were true, it appears as though the order of priority has been upset. If the governments already had agreed on food aid to the North, the South's government should quickly reveal the content of the food aid agreement, its schedule and scope, to the people and seek the approval of South Korean citizens.