Inter-Korea military talks slated

Military officials from the two Koreas are likely to meet Nov. 22 or 23 to iron out military issues involving the proposed relinking of a cross-border railway, the suspended Kyongui line, and a parallel highway through the western sector of the Korean border.

According to the Defense Ministry here Sunday, North Korea sent a telephone message Saturday requesting a meeting of working-level military officials at the Tongilgak building in Panmunjom at 10 a.m. Nov. 21. The ministry officials said it takes some time for inter-departmental coordination and that the South would call for a meeting of liaison officers of both sides in the truce village Tuesday to tell the North that Seoul desires the military talks to be resumed Nov. 22 or 23.

It is necessary to bring North Korea around to agree with the South on holding such meetings of military officials on a regular basis so that both sides will be able to undertake the work of removing land mines within the demilitarized zone at the same time, the ministry sources said.