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Inter-Korean Talks Focus on Family Reunion, National Reconciliation
North Korean and South Korean leaders focused on the issues of economic exchanges and the reunion of separated Korean families in the second day of their summit Wednesday.
Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of North Korean Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), and visiting South Korean President Kim Dae-jung held an expanded summit meeting Wednesday morning.
The two sides negotiated on elevating what has been private-level economic cooperation to the government level and activating government-to-government dialogue.
Kim Dae-jung said during the talks that the issue of the separated families was something that "can not be dragged on any longer" and he hoped that the issues could be solved through the current talks.
He also officially invited North Korean top leader Kim Jong Il to visit Seoul.
South Korean pool reports said that during their talks, the two sides also discussed the possibility of setting up representative offices in each other's capital in a bid to further improve their bilateral relations.
Although no final agreement has been reached yet, the two sides were fairly close in their positions on the proposal, the reports said.
In addition, the two sides are expected to sign agreements on prevention of double taxation and investment protection later Wednesday.
During the talks, Kim Yong Nam stressed that both the North and South of the Korean Peninsula should give top priority to the issue of national reunification.
He said, "it is the obligation of every politician to do his utmost in the efforts trying to realize national reunification, which should be given top priority."
Kim Yong Nam stressed self-determination as the most fundamental precondition in seeking national reunification, as he reaffirmed the three principles of national reunification, namely independence, peace, and grand national unity, which were put forward by late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung in 1972.
Some foreign countries are not happy to see a united and strong state of Korea, he noted and voiced his confidence that the Koreans are able to solve, independently, all their internal problems. He also reiterated the DPRK position against foreign interference in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula.
Kim Yong Nam called on both sides to abandon confrontation and pursue national reconciliation and unity, saying the differences between the North and South sides in ideologies and systems should not become a cause of mutual-hostility.
On the proposed federal system, Kim Yong Nam said the establishment of such a mechanism, which will be in charge of all the inter-Korean issues on cooperation and exchange, will bring about a landmark change in the course of national reunification.
Attending the meeting at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, for the North side, were Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the SPA Presidium, and SPA Chairman Choi Tae Bok, SPA Vice Chairman Ryo Won Gu, Asia-Pacific Peace Committee Vice Chairman Song Ho Gyong, and Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Fatherland Secretariat Director An Kyong Ho.
The South Korean official present at the meeting include National Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu, Finance and Economy Minister Lee Hun-jai, Culture and Tourism Minister Park Jie-won and senior presidential secretaries Lee Ki-ho and Hwang Won-tak.
President Kim arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the first since the Korean Peninsular was divided 55 years ago. The two leaders held a brief meeting Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, Kim Dae-jung's wife Lee Hui-ho paid a visit to Changgwang Kingdergarden in central Pyongyang, where she enjoyed performances by kids and danced with them. She also visited an embroidery institute. She is to tour the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital and have a meeting with local women representatives later Wednesday.
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