North Korean leader`s visit postponed

South and North Korea have agreed to formally pursue North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il`s exchange visit to Seoul next spring. Also, prior to the third inter-Korean ministerial talks set for September 27-30, there will be yet another historical first round of discussions between the Ministers of National Defense, as well as working-level meetings on the inter-Korean railway re-connection and the establishment of policies for economic cooperation. With the visit to Seoul of Kim Jong-il`s special envoy and Secretary of North Korean Workers¡¯Party Kim Yong-Sun, the two sides will discuss various issues and have agreed to formally publicize their decisions on the 14th.

According to a hjgh-ranking South Korean official who accompanied Secretary Kim`s delegation`s visit to Jeju Island, through a meeting between President¡¯s special aide Lim Dong-Won and Secretary Kim and another working level meeting, two sides decided to delay working out the details of the North Korean leader`s visit to Seoul until some time next spring. The source also revealed that the agreements made at the second inter-Korean ministerial meeting, including military officials` talks, economic cooperation, food aid and the Red Cross meeting, would be carried out prior to the third ministerial talks.

Accordingly, the second Red Cross talks are expected to take place this weekend or early next week at Geumgang Mountain. The discussions will focus on the establishment and management of a permanent facility for the reunion of separated family members, the much awaited second and third family exchange visits scheduled for October and November, as well as letter exchanges. However, regarding the question of South Korean war prisoners and those abducted to the North, they have agreed to implement measures much like the ones for the family reunions, such as the confirmation of living family members and others, in stages. The lack of greater advancement in this area is seen as a conflict between the two sides with the South

stressing that war prisoners and the abducted should be handled much like the separated families, while the North insists that non-realigned long-term Communist prisoners should be repatriated to the North.

While the North reportedly said that the South proposed a loan of food products, the South`s source in the government denied having made any such statements.

North Korean Secretary Kim, who began his three-night visit to the South last Monday, visited President Kim Dae-Jung in Chong Wa Dae. After delivering a sealed document prepared by Kim Jong-Il, he is expected to return to Pyongyang.