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S. Korea Invites DPRK to Join APEC With Guest StatusSouth Korean President Kim Dae-jung on Friday invited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum with guest status.In his opening speech of a two-day APEC forum meeting, Kim hoped the DPRK would be able to participate in APEC activities with guest status upon consultation with other APEC member economies if it wishes so. Kim pointed out that APEC members should fully consider the role of the DPRK in business activities such as establishing joint ventures with South Korean companies to guard against risks. He said South Korea would like to see the establishment of a formal channel for active support by APEC member economies in the event of a request for assistance by the DPRK, he said. "I look forward to the day when North Korea is a member of APEC, " said Kim. In the speech, the president also proposed the prompt establishment of a hedge fund "monitoring channel" as to prevent another financial crisis in the region. The president also hoped that the information infrastructure such as computers and high-speed information networks, will be established in all corners of the Asia-Pacific region to enable poor and vulnerable members of the region to easily access quality education. He also called for an APEC social safety net participated by both the government and the private sector to share burden in times of unforeseen difficulties. The APEC region has recently experienced a number of traumatic natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and fires, and a social safety net in APEC could have alleviated such difficulties. The APEC forum began a two-day meeting Friday morning in Seoul to discuss economic and social issues facing its 21 members in the new century. Some 600 delegates attended the meeting under the theme of " Shared Prosperity and Harmony" in an era of the knowledge-based and digital economy. The forum was proposed by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung at the APEC summit in Auckland, New Zealand, last September.
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