Inter-Korean Exchanges to Continue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 01, 2002

Inter-Korean Exchanges to Continue

The Unification Ministry of South Korea has decided to press ahead with inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation despite heightening tension triggered by Saturday's naval clash in the West Sea.

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The Unification Ministry of South Korea has decided to press ahead with inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation despite heightening tension triggered by Saturday's naval clash in the West Sea.

The ministry spokesman Kim Hong-jae said the ministry came with the decision in a hurriedly convened meeting chaired by Minister Jeong Se-hyun late Saturday.

The Solbong-ho cruise ship yesterday left Sokcho Port to head for Mt. Kumgang in the North, carrying 579 passengers in total.

At present, the ministry is closely watching the development of the situation in the North, which might negatively affect inter-Korean relations.

Two professors, Oh Hee-kuk, 41, and Cha Jae-hyuk, 38, along with three other figures also entered Pyongyang the same day to offer information technology-related education to DPRK students for two months from July.

Private and religious organizations promoting an inter-Korean joint event on the occasion of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day plan to propose to DPRK that working-level contact be held July 9-13 in Pyongyang.

``We expect a positive response from the North in this regard despite the current military standoff,�� said an official of Tongilyondai (Unification Alliance).

urrently, 1,176 South Koreans are staying in DPRK including tourists at Mt. Kumgang and 736 employees of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), responsible for the construction of two light-water reactors. Fifty-two employees of Hyundai Engineering and Construction are engaged in the construction of a gymnasium in Pyongyang.

S. Korean Government sources said the North is expected to guarantee the safety of the South Koreans, citing the precedent of a similar naval clash in 1999.

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