Korea-US Soon To Agree On NK`s Conventional Weapons

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) will soon launch the working-level consultation with the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in order to establish the blueprint for the Korea-US joint measure to ease the North Korea`s military threats by the conventional weapons, it was reported yesterday.

A high-ranking official of the MND told that ``both sides agreed in the Korea-US inter-minister meeting that Korea will play a leading role in the negotiation on North Korea`s conventional weapons with North Korea through the close consultation between Korea and the U.S.. Based on this agreement, above all, we will discuss the negotiation agenda and the sequential measures with the USFK``.

The official added that ``because both sides decided to use the South-North Basic Agreement which was concluded in 1992, we will try to persuade the USFK for the gradual and sequential approaches from the low level Confidence Building Measure to the high level armament reduction``.

Kim Guk-Hun, the director of the arms control, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James N. Soligan, who will serve as new deputy chief of staff of the USFK from today, were named to represent both countries in the working-level consultation.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com