South Provides 400,000 Tons of Rice in Credit to North

South Korea and North Korea on May 23 agreed to swiftly push ahead with three major inter-Korean economic projects including reconnection of cross-border railways in return for Seoul`s provision of 400,000 tons of rice to Pyongyang under the premise of securing transparency for rice distribution to starving North Koreans.

The two Koreas have begun work on the wording of a joint statement focusing on facilitating inter-Korean economic cooperation after representatives of the two Koreas overcame a serious impasse regarding North Korea`s remarks concerning the “unspeakable disaster that would fall on Seoul,” at the fifth round of the inter-Korean economic cooperation committee meeting.

The two sides agreed that Seoul would send 400,000 tons of rice, almost the same amount that it provided previously, to the Stalinist country, providing 100,000 tons of rice at a time. They also agreed that when the rice is delivered to the North, representatives from the two countries would verify transparent distribution of the much needed rice, so that it goes to the right place.

In addition, the two Koreas agreed to start reconnecting two inter-Korean railroads within June, along with a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of Gaesong Industrial Complex.

Cho Myung-kyun, spokesman for the South`s delegation, said that delegates from the two sides are drafting an agreement on further economic cooperation after “overcoming” the gridlock triggered by threatening remarks made by the North`s chief delegate. He added that the two sides have reached a broad understanding on economic cooperation issues.

The two sides also reached an agreement on information exchange regarding joint flood prevention systems. They also agreed to conduct a survey around the Imjin River in June to deal with the yearly flooding on its banks, with the North saying it would notify the South if it had to release water from its Mount Geumgang (Imnam) Dam during the monsoon season. Delegates from the two Koreas agreed to restart the inter-Korean tourism project in Mt. Gumgang, which was suspended because of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Pyongyang insisted on the participation of Hyundai Asan Chairman Jung Mong-hun and President Kim Woon-kyu, both of whom are currently under investigation related to the summit-for-money case, in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an industrial complex in Gaesong, North Korea.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com