North and South Joint Investigation into Imnam Dam

North and South Korea is reported to plan to issue a joint statement outlining 8 points on which both sides agreed at the 3rd plenary session of the 7th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks in the morning of Wednesday. The 8 points include the two Koreas’ agreement on the 2nd round of economic talks scheduled for late August to discuss the reconnection of the severed railway and road between Seoul and Shinuiju and the Red Cross talks slated for early September.

The Two Koreas are said to have almost agreed in the 2nd plenary meeting on Tuesday that both sides would conduct a joint investigation into the Imnam dam (Mt. Geumgang dam) in mid-September.

“The both sides are fine-tuning their differences,” a South Korean delegate said. “They are likely to schedule between late August and early October the 2nd economic cooperation promotion meeting, the working-level military talks, the government-level meeting at Mt. Geumgang, the 5th reunion of separated family members and the Red Cross talks.” In particular, North Korea’s military’s positive response to the Joint probe of the Imnam dam, which is within the jurisdiction of the North, suggests its willingness to cooperate with the South in direct or indirect ways. This makes the outlook of the ongoing talks much brighter.

A South Korean official participating in the talks said “North Korean delegation had showed passive attitudes until the 6th round of inter-Korean ministerial meeting saying that they did not have right to decide on military matters and they should sound the North Korean military out on the matters.” He added: “South Korea expects the North military’s hailing the investigation into the Imnam dam, which was constructed by North Korean soldiers at the order of Kim Jong-il, chairman of the National Defense Commission, will lead to cooperation between the two Koreas in other areas.” The North responded sharply to the safety issues of the Imnam dam raised by the South.

Currently it is highly likely that the working-level talks into the dawn of August 14th between South Korean delegates Lee Bong-jo and Seo Yeong-Gyo and their North Korean counterparts Choi Seong-ik and Kim Man-gil will work out thorny issues such as the timetable of the working-level military meeting.

The two sides are reported to have little difference on the two Koreas lending support to the Busan Asian Games, the 8.15 National unification Rally and inter-Korean soccer match.

In a briefing just after the 2nd plenary session on Tuesday, Lee Bong-jo, South Korean delegation spokesman, said, “Both sides negotiated yesterday over their own positions and concentrated on what to put into action for their agreements. Though there are something of differences on some issues, in general the two sides are in agreement.”

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com esprit@donga.com