Discussing the Following Countermeasures

It is known that the Government will explain the result of the agreement of the 8th South and North Minister Level Talks, which agreed to `solve the nuclear problem with talks,` and seek understanding from America and Japan during the Summit of Korea, America, and Japan in Mexico on the 26th.

It is known that the Government had the National Security Council led by the Minister of Reunification Jung, Se-Hyun, discussed the result of the South and North Minister Level Talks and decided like that.

However, it is not sure whether the George W. Bush Administration will value the will to talk of North Korea since the resolution of North Korea to remove nuclear facilities or to observe the international agreement related to nuclear, which was asked by Korea and America, is not included at the Agreement of the South and North Minister Level Talks.

South and North Korea took the joint news material that included 8 agreed items at the Minister Level Talks in Pyongyang that had been continued on the morning of the 23rd including, △solving the nuclear problem through talks, △early connection of the Gyongeui Line and Donghae Line railroads and roads, △starting work of Gaesung Industrial Complex in December and opening the office in South, △working level talks for using parts of the East Sea Fishing Grounds, and △having the 9th South and North Minister Level Talks in Seoul in the middle of January, 2003.

However, it is known that North Korea refused to have the 2nd Defense Ministers` Meeting, which was proposed by South Korea as a way of solving the nuclear problem.

ysmo@donga.com esprit@donga.com