2. DPRK-ROK Diplomacy
Yonhap also said the two Koreas are expected to hold a first-ever meeting of defense ministers to discuss measures to ease tensions and a new round of Red Cross talks will take place as early as September 18 to discuss more reunions of separated Korean families. Experts predicted that the talks would deal with the establishment of military hot lines, prior notification of military drills, troop movements, and military exchanges. Also expected to be on the agenda are the regular staging of defense ministers' talks and other action plans for the implementation of the Basic Agreement reached by the two Koreas in 1992.
"Kim Jong-il Visit to the ROK" (Daily Report, September 13, US)
"Inter-Korean Defense Minister Talks" (Daily Report, September 15, US)
"ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 15, ROK)
ROK officials said that the ROK and the DPRK will open economic talks on September 25 to negotiate bilateral pacts aimed at facilitating trade, investment and commercial ties between the two sides. The officials said negotiations will take place at the vice ministerial level.
"ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 15, ROK)
A high-ranking ROK military official said on Saturday that negotiations are under way with the United Nations Command (UNC) on the joint control and management of areas in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the planned inter-Korean railway and highway projects would be carried out. Work on de-mining the DMZ is reportedly underway.
"DMZ Control Talks" (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
"Joint Control of DMZ" (Daily Report, September 12, ROK)
"DPRK-ROK Border to Be De-Mined" (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)
ROK President Kim Dae-jung has mapped out a two-plus-two formula to establish a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. The plan calls for the ROK and the DPRK to first reach an agreement and for the US and the PRC to endorse it later. Park Che-gyu, ROK Reunification Minister, said at a conference on security and trade in North Asia, "A peaceful reunification will take place maybe in 30 years, maybe in 40 years, but it won't take place soon. Presently we must build up economic cooperation."
"ROK Policy toward Unification" (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
"DPRK-ROK Border to Be De-Mined" (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)