Inter-Korean ministerial talks postponed at North`s request

The fifth round of inter-Korean ministerial talks, scheduled to open today in Seoul, were postponed at North Korea`s request, a government official said this morning. No explanation was immediately given on why North Korea asked for the postponement. The four-day South-North ministerial meeting was slated to be held from today at the Hotel Shilla in central Seoul. The North Korean delegates, headed by senior cabinet councilor Jon Kum-Jin, were to arrive at Kimpo International Airport on Asiana flight 0Z-332 at 3:30 p.m. The two sides were scheduled to discuss ways of easing military tensions on the peninsula, resolving the family reunion issue and boosting cooperation and exchanges in the social, cultural and economic sectors.

Seoul had planned to brief the northern delegates on the results of last week’s summit between President Kim Dae-Jung and U.S. President George W. Bush. The South also had planned to sound out the North`s intentions with regard to the planned visit to Seoul by North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il. The North was expected to demand the South make clear its position on the question of Seoul supplying it with electricity. The issue was first raised in the fourth round of talks. South Korean officials also speculated that the North would raise the issue of Hyundai`s cash-strapped Mt. Kumgang tour project. The consensus was that the talks would face rough sailing.

Ahn Byoung-Ryul mokdong@donga.com