Ministerial-Level Council to Be Launched for “West Sea Special Zone”

The two Koreas have virtually agreed to set up a ministerial-level action group for the establishment of a “West Sea Special Zone for Peace and Cooperation,” one of the key agreements of the “2007 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration,” on Thursday, the second day of the inter-Korean prime ministerial meeting in Seoul.

In principle, the two sides also agreed to build a shipbuilding complex in Anbyon and Nampo, and to start operating freight train service between Munsan and Bongdong along the Gyeongui Line, which passes through Gaesong Industrial Park.

“The two sides have reached a strong consensus that a joint committee, chaired by the unification minister or the president`s chief secretary for national security, should be established. Three or four subcommittees handling the development of the Haeju Special Economic Zone, the creation of the joint fishery zone and the peace zone will be launched,” said a senior official of the government.

The delegations of the two Koreas had a working-level meeting yesterday over the three issues: the Shipbuilding Cooperation Complex; railways and roads; and health and medical care. They reached agreements on ways to renovate or repair the Gaesong-Shinuiju railway line and Gaesong–Pyongyang expressway. The two sides plan to finalize a joint-statement and announce it at the last round of the talks on Friday morning.

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