Discuss Kim Jung-Il`s Reciprocal Visit & Ministerial Talks

Lim Dong-Won, special advisor to the President on foreign affairs, national security, and unification, will visit Pyongyang on April 3rd as a special presidential envoy. Carrying President Kim`s personal message, Lim will meet North Korean leader Kim Jung-Il to discuss about the measures that will bring the stalled South-North relations back on track.

During his visit, Lim will discuss all pending issues, including Kim Jung-Il`s reciprocal visit, South-North ministerial talks, and reunions of the families separated by the Korean War. In addition, he is expected to discuss about the possibility of exchanging prime minister-level delegations for the Arirang Festival (April 29-June 29) and the World Cup games (May 31-June30).

Presidential Spokeswomen Park Sun-Sook announced yesterday that, “South and North Koreas agreed on our presidential envoy`s visit to Pyongyang. This visit is expected to bring a turning point for current deadlock situation between South and North.” Park added that South suggested three discussion topics to North △ prevention of rising tension in Korean peninsula △ observing the 6.15 summit pact △ implementing of the South-North agreement.

The North`s Korean Central Broadcasting and Pyongyang Broadcasting also announced that, “President Kim`s envoy will visit Pyongyang next week. North and South Koreas will discuss the grave situations facing the nation and the issues of mutual concerns.”

Lim Dong-Won said, “Conveying our views on North`s nuclear and missile issues (which are the pending items between North Korea and the U.S.), I will deliver President Kim`s wishes to solve the issues smoothly. I will also deliver the North Korean leader`s (Kim Jung-Il) opinion to President Kim.”

In order to promote the reconnection of an inter-Korean railway and road, the government will include an official of the Defense Ministry into Lim`s party to sign an working-level military agreement for the reconnection of the railway.

Before Lim`s visit, the government will announce a humanitarian aid plan to North Korea. It will send 200,000 tons of fertilizer and restart a deputy ministerial meeting to support 300,000 tons of food.

A government official said that the government already explained the South-North agreement to the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia before the official announcement of Lim`s visit.

Chol-Hi Lee klimt@donga.com