``The Preparation for the Establishment of a Direct Line``

Kim Duk-Ryong, a member of the Han-Naradang Party stated on the 9th that the Korean government has prepared a memorandum for North Korea to sign concerning the establishment of a direct line that will connect Incheon International Airport with North Korea`s Ham-Nam Sun-Duk Airport. Kim believes that the government has therefore completed its preparation to establish a direct line between the North and the South.

Kim quoted from a `data` which he claims to have acquired in person, and he stated that he is anticipating the government to present this on the agenda during the North and South ministerial meeting to be held in Seoul on the 15th in order to discuss the possibility of establishing a direct line at an early time.

Kim added that there are three direct lines the government is going to present to the North: △ Incheon International Airport ∼ Ham-Nam Sun-Duk Airport △ Incheon International Airport ∼ Pyongyang ∼ Sun-Duk Airport △ Kangwon Yang-Yang Airport ∼ Sun-Duk Airport.

However Kim did not reveal the source of the data he acquired.

In the passage protocol concluded between the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and North Korea in 1996, an air-route was to be established between China`s Beijing∼ Pyongyang ∼Sun-Duk for the human resources and materials shipping of KEDO as well as for trade between the North and the South. As for the establishment of additional air-routes, it was to be processed in accordance with an agreement between KEDO and North Korea, prior to the basic excavation construction of the main building for light-water reactor power station.

The basic excavation construction of the main building for the power station will begin with its ground-breaking ceremony on the 12th under the guidance of Korea Energy.

Kim pointed out that, ``The number of Korean Nationals residing in North Korea averages 815 people daily, without including the tourists visiting Mount Kumkang. Most of them are entering North Korea via Beijing, and consequently, enormous sum of visa fees and airfares are being drained away abroad.``

Kim Jung-Il, North Korea`s chairman of National Defense, emphasized the need for the establishment of a direct line between the North and the South during last year`s visit to North Korea by press managerial authorities of the South. He stated that ``the problem lies with the military authorities, and I am in the midst of persuading them.``

Sun Dae-In eodls@donga.com