Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting Begins in SeoulDelegates of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) began their first-round of meeting here Sunday morning to discuss follow-up measures to the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, economic cooperation and social and cultural exchanges.It is the first ministerial meeting between the South and the North since May 1992. The South Korean delegation is headed by Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu and the chief DPRK negotiator is Senior Cabinet Counselor Jon Kum Jin. The June 15 South-North Joint Declaration was signed by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang in June in the first-ever inter-Korean summit in more than 50 years. Before the ministerial meeting began at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) Sunday at the Shilla Hotel in downtown Seoul, Park said to reporters that "we will make efforts to produce results." Under a joint statement issued Saturday afternoon, the two sides agreed to have two rounds of intensive talks Sunday and further talks if necessary. Government sources said Kim Dae-jung will receive the delegates from the two sides at his office Monday. The 25-member DPRK delegation, down from the original number of 35, flew into Seoul Saturday noon through Beijing and attended a banquet hosted by South Korean Prime Minister Lee Han-dong Saturday evening. Inter-Korean relations have grown warmer since the two Kims met in Pyongyang on June 13-15. |
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