How to read S-N joint press release

The joint press statement agreed upon by the visiting North Korean Workers' Party Secretary Kim Yong-Sun, special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and South Korean National Intelligence Service general director Lim Dong-Won who cocurrently acts as advisor to President Kim Dae-Jung showed that the rapid development of inter-Korean relations is here to stay now. The joint release reaffirmed strong commitment of the two sides to implementing the earlier joint declaration by the leaders of the two Koreas at the June 15 summit meeting to achieve the objectives of easing tension and promoting reconciliation between the two parts of the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Jong-Il's visit to Seoul

The visit of North Korean Defense Commission chairman Kim Jong Il, to Seoul topped the agenda during Secretary Kim's stay in the South. The close confidant of the North Korean secretary¡¯s tour of Jeju Island, Pohang Iron Works and Geongju City were obviously meant to be a field survey of the sites which are likely to attract Chairman Kim when he visit South Korea in return for the earlier trip of President Kim to Pyongyang. The visit of North's Kim here is important because it presents a highly symbolic and pportune occasion to confirm he is really interested in living up to the summit declaration. Accord reached on the approximate date of his visit to Seoul sometime next spring is believed to demonstrate the solid intention of both sides to implement the Pyongyang statement. The Seoul government has all along been seeking an early visit of Kim Jong Il. North Korea tried to delay the visit on account of the pressure of its internal political circle. Thus, the South was flexible in setting the date, putting chief emphasis on the substance of the proposed visit contributory to the realization of the summit declaration.

Reunion of dispersed families

The two representatives concurred in undertaking the work of confirming whether the members of divided families are alive or not, and identifying their domicile within the year. Such identification is crucial to pave the way for mail exchange, mutual visits and eventual reunificaton of dispersed families on both sides of the demarcation line. North Korea has displayed a positive attitude toward settling the issues of separated families. The latest agreement between the two leading officials of the Koreas is certain to provide a strong momentum for relieving the plight of these divided people although its technical resolution remains the main responsibility of the Red Cross. Specific agreement to be explored at the Red Cross talks taking place at Mt. Geumgang next week should take more concrete steps toward its overall settlement through institutional arrangements.

Meeting of defense ministers

The upcoming encounter between the defense chiefs of the two governments albeit in a third country, the first such one since the partition of the country, will mark a breakthrough in our joint quest for tension reduction and confidence building. The talks between senior military officials are aimed at materializing the shared conviction of the top leaders of two Koreas expressed in the summit statement that there must never be another war on this land. Proposal to set up and operate a hot line will highlight their discussions of various measures designed to ease tension, increase mutual confidence and cooperate in military matters. Tension reduction has to accompany the progressing economic cooperation. That a foreign venue was chosen for the conference leaves something to be desired. At first, Seoul proposed that the talks be held in the South while Pyongyang wanted it to take place inside the North. South Korea was to opt for Panmunjom which was rejected by North Korea. Following the first meeting in a third country, subsequent talks are expected to occur within the Korean Peninsula, the conference sources said.

Institutional preparation for economic cooperation

Invigoration of economic cooperation between the two sides will depend on making institutional arrangements required such as agreements on investment guarantee, avoidance of double taxation, procedures for accounting and settlement and resolution of commercial disputes. Seoul officials said that the two sades should begin with the work of providing relevant institutional framework for economic cooperation in a responsible way so that the balanced development of national economy as mentioned in the summit declaration. Absence of such preparation has encumbered many prospective investors interested in North Korea. Their investment need to be well protected and North Korea could be in a position to induce more Southern capital. The two sides agreed to hold a working-level economic talks and a North Korean economic mission comprising some 15 businessmen is to visit South Korea soon.