Gov`t Is Considering Postponement of `Talk at Mt. Kuemgang`

Officials of the Ministry of Unification are considering the postponement of the talk at Mt. Kuemgang, without accepting the North proposal to hold the second South-North government talk on 19th at Mt. Kuemgang as an effort to activate Mt. Kuemgang tourism.

The North suggested through the telephone yesterday morning that it be `reasonable to hold the second talk at Mt. Kuemgang where security is guaranteed`. In its response to this suggestion, officials of the Ministry of Unification questioned whether it was desirable to continue the talk when the family exchange program was unilaterally postponed.

A Ministry of Unification said, ``If we hold the talk at Mt. Kuemgang as proposed by the North, it could be perceived as if we are in agreement with the pretext of North Korea`s Peaceful Reunification of Fatherland Committee (PRFC), that is, the situation of South Korea is unstable. If the North does not respond to our telephone notice by 18th right before the talk at Mt. Kuemgang, sent under the name of the Unification Minister Hong Soon-Young, the talk at Mt. Kuemgang cannot but be postponed.``

``If the North accepts our request for holding the second talk at Mt. Kuemgang, we can hold the talk as scheduled. However, if the North does not change its position on the postponement of the family exchange program, having the talk at Mt. Kuemgang on 19th itself may contradict the public sentiment.`` he added.

He also said that ``although there is no change in the principle policy that we supply food to the North, we will decide after comprehensively considering various factors such as the North`s attitude, and the position of the party-government and the related ministries.``

Prior to this, the North sent the telephone message under the name of Kim Tack-Ryong, leader of the North Mt. Kuemgang talk, which suggested to hold the second talk at Mt. Kuemgang on 19th.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com