Inter-Korean ministerial talks to be held in Pyongyang Dec. 12

The fourth round of inter-Korean ministerial talks scheduled for Nov. 28 in Pyongyang will be put off until Dec. 12 at the request of North Korea, which wants the meeting to be held for three days at the later date.

Seoul government officials said Sunday that the government accepted the North's proposal for the delay and the North will be informed of the decision Monday by telephone. On Nov. 25, North Korea's chief delegate to the inter-Korean ministerial meetings, Jon Kum-Jin, sent a telephone message to his Southern counterpart, Park Jae-Kyu, asking for the postponement.

The message requested that the three-day meeting of ministers be put off until Dec. 12 as it would overlap a reunion of separated families if held this week. North Korea also agreed to the South¡¯s proposal that the delegation travel directly to and from Pyongyang by a route over the West Sea. The delay in the fourth round of ministerial talks is also likely to result in the postponement of the third round of Red Cross talks slated for Dec. 13-15 at Mt. Kumkang.

The fourth meeting of ministers from the two Koreas will again focus on issues concerning the postponed second round of defense chiefs¡¯ talks, a visit of a North Korean economic survey mission to South Korea and a visit to Seoul by North Korea's Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the North's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-Nam.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com