DPRK, S. Korea Reach Agreements on Cooperation

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea, after five days of talks, reached eight agreements Saturday, December 16, on cooperation in the fields of power, fishery, tourism and sports, DPRK Central TV station reported.

During the talks, which were from December 12-16 at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, the two sides also signed four agreements on the prevention of double taxation, trade, investment guarantee and disputed settlements, the Korean Central News Agency said.

Pyongyang and Soul agreed to set up an inter-Korean committee for promoting cooperation, so as to bring about the balanced development of the national economy on the Korean Peninsula. The first meeting of the committee will be held on December 26 in Pyongyang.

The two sides also agreed to hold the third inter-Korean reunion of 100 separated families in February next year, and affirm addresses, lives and deaths, as well as exchanging letters.

The two sides decided that the fifth inter-Korean ministerial level talks will be held in March.

Pyongyang and Seoul have held three rounds of ministerial level talks since June, when a joint declaration was signed following the historic visit to the DPRK by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.






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