Aftermath of inter-Korean ministers' talks

The recently ended inter-Korean ministerial-level talks herald the smooth implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration reached between President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il. Both sides said that the talks were more fruitful than expected, noting that they reached an additional agreement on the reconnection of the suspended rail line between Seoul and Shinuiju, a city on the Chinese border, in the morning session, despite initial expectations that an accord would be reached in the afternoon. The pact reached at the ministers` meeting is therefore seen as a substantial move to put the five-point agreement reached at the inter-Korean summit into action.

However, at the Seoul meeting, the two agreed items, one calling for the independent solution of unification issues and the second for the gradual pursuit of the unification formula, were not discussed. This indicates that the two sides intended to resolve easier problems first. The unification method is, as a matter of fact, a program that must be addressed in the long term. This marks a great step forward, considering the North invariably insisted on a comprehensive solution in past talks.

The agreement allowing members of Chochongnyon (a pro-Pyongyang residents association in Japan) to visit their hometowns in the South is compatible with the third point of the summit accord, which calls for solutions to humanitarian issues such as the reunions of families separated between the two Koreas. Of course, the family reunion program is to be promoted by the inter-Korean Red Cross societies and the Chochongnyon members` visits can be made only through entry permits issued by the Seoul government. This nonetheless demonstrates both sides¡¯ firm determination to jointly settle humanitarian issues.

The fourth agreed item of the inter-summit declaration regarding economic, social and cultural exchanges was substantiated with the ministerial accords on the reconnection of the Seoul-Shinuiju railroads and the staging of festive events for national reconciliation during the week of Aug. 15, National Liberation Day. The fifth agreed item was embodied with the decision to hold ministerial-level talks on a regular basis. In addition, the re-establishment of liaison offices at the truce village of Panmunjom will become a venue for the implementation of these projects.

Since the June 15 inter-Korean declaration is an extension of the 1992 inter-Korean basic agreement, a charter for improving bilateral relations, South-North ties can be said to be eventually moving toward the framework of the basic agreement.

The Seoul government has hoped to operate the inter-Korean ministerial talks as a mechanism of control and supervision. Under the ministers` conference, three committees dealing with economic cooperation, social and cultural exchanges and reconciliatory measures will also be installed and operated. Hence, in the future, the three committees will be commissioned to deal with matters related to exchanges and cooperation, and the ministerial talks will tackle problems requiring coordination, the related officials explained.