North asks for 2 mil.kw of electricity

Pyongyang surprised Seoul Friday with an abrupt demand for 2 million kilowatts of electricity, saying that unless 500,000 kilowatts of electric power was supplied to the North immediately, the current fourth round of ministerial talks would not go ahead.

On the positive side, the two sides did share the view that they should maintain close consultations on bilateral projects, including the South's provision of electric power to the North. The two sides also agreed to hold further discussions on pending matters in the future.

On the North's abrupt demand for electricity, the South Korean delegation said the question could be studied at the projected South-North economic cooperation promotion committee meeting, which is to look at the comprehensive framework of bilateral economic exchanges and cooperation.

The meeting wrapped up with the two sides unable to proceed with discussions on implementing the third round of family-reunion projects and setting up exchanges of mail between separated families.

Officials said the family-reunion issue would be raised at the forthcoming third inter-Korean Red Cross talks.

They also said the North Korean demand for electric power was so firm that the South Korean side had little room to raise its own proposed agenda items. The South proposed the establishment of a joint economic cooperation committee to take up the matter but failed to persuade the North Korean side, they said.

The Seoul delegates packed their bags and had their chartered plane on standby at Pyongyang's Sunan Airport at 1:15 p.m. in an attempt to apply mental pressure on their North Korean counterparts.