Pyongyang Accepts Seoul's Timetable for Inter-Korean TalksThe Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has accepted South Korea's timetable for the fifth inter-Korean ministerial-level meeting slated to open in Seoul on September 15-18.Hours following South Korea's suggestion Thursday morning for the timetable after the DPRK proposed early resumption of the stalled inter-Korean talks last Sunday, Pyongayng sent a telephone message through the inter-Korean liaison officer at the truce village of Panmunjom to inform acceptance of the timetable. The forthcoming meeting will mark the end of the six-month freeze in inter-Korean reconciliation which coincided with worsening U.S.-DPRK relations after George B. Bush became U.S. president last January. In the message, Pyongyang agreed to Seoul's proposal for holding the fifth South-North minister-level talks on September 15- 18. "We hope the dialogue will proceed in line with the June 15 inter-Korean summit joint declaration," read the message. The meeting is expected to discuss issues on non-fulfilled items carried in existing inter-Korean agreements and other issues that need to be addressed in the future. Those issues include the cross-border railway and highway reconnection project, reunions of separated families, the opening of an overland tour route to DPRK Mount Kumgang and Seoul's support for the development of an industrial complex in the DPRK city of Kaesong. |
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