N.K. proposes postponement of inter-Korean working-level talks

The inter-Korean working-level talks for economic cooperation scheduled to take place in Pyongyang Wednesday was postponed all of a sudden.

A Ministry of Finance and Economy official said the North proposed through contact between liaison officers Tuesday morning that the talks be put off. North Korea gave no clear reason, only citing an ¡°internal problem,¡± according to the official. The two sides agreed to fix the date for the resumption of the talks through discussion in the days to come, he added.

It was not known clearly why North Korea postponed the talks suddenly, but some officials here analyzed that the postponement has something to do with the lack of manpower for negotiations following the visit of a United States advance team to Pyongyang ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright¡¯s trip to the North.

South and North Korea were about to discuss the issue of injecting fresh air into economic cooperation such as the provisional signing of an agreement on investment guarantee and double taxation prevention in the postponed Pyongyang meeting.

The South planned to send four government delegates, led by assistant minister Lee Keun-Kyoung of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and 22 entourage members and reporters.