Seoul Hails Pyongyang's Call for Inter-Korean Dialogue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 24, 2002

Seoul Hails Pyongyang's Call for Inter-Korean Dialogue

Seoul Thursday welcomed Pyongyang's Tuesday call for inter-Korean governmental dialogue.

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Seoul Thursday welcomed Pyongyang's Tuesday call for inter-Korean governmental dialogue.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, the South Korean Unificaiton Ministry said South Korea will be sincere in implementing the June 2000 Joint Declaration and is willing to reopen inter-governmental dialogue to discuss pending issues at any time without preconditions.

"Inter-Korean dialogue is indispensable for achieving a peaceful coexistence and improved inter-Korean relations," the statement said.

South Korea hoped that the two sides of the Korean peninsula will be able to "reopen suspended talks and implement the agreements as sincerely as possible," the ministry said in the statement.

It added that Seoul also hoped the relationship between both sides "will help settle reconciliation, cooperation and friendshipbetween the two parts of the divided peninsula."

South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)issued the joint declaration after a historic summit between SouthKorean President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang One June 13-15, 2000.

However, inter-Korean relations came into stalemate after the fifth inter-Korean ministerial talks failed last October.

Early Thursday, former Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu said at a seminar that inter-Korean relations are bound to improve soonbecause Pyongyang needs to cooperate with Seoul to solve its economic troubles and wants to improve its relationship with Washington.

In addition, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Yim Sung-joonmet Assistant U.S. Secretary of State James Kelly here Thursday tocoordinate the countries' policies toward the DPRK.

At the meeting, Yim expressed his positive evaluation of the call by Pyongyang for inter-Korean talks, urging Washington to make concerted efforts to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang declared that it will actively seek dialogue with Seoul at both the government and civil level, calling for thorough implementation of the June 15 Declaration, the promotion of inter-Korean relations and a unification campaign,and removing the obstacles to peace and reunification.

The declaration was made at a joint meeting of the DPRK government, party and other organizations.

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