North Korea Suggests Celebration with the 2000 Summit
North Korea (North Korea) proposes the two Koreas to hold a joint celebration of the 2000 anniversary of this month's historic Korean inter-Korean meeting in South Korea (South Korea). The proposal was submitted during high-level talks on Friday (1/6/2018).
The meeting in the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone separating North Korea and South Korea is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic activities aimed at saving the ties with isolated North Korea.
North Korea had earlier canceled its planned meeting with South Korea last month in protest against US-South Korean air drill before President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un revived during a surprise second summit on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and Ri Son-gwon, Chairman of the North Committee for peaceful reunification of the country.
"The two sides discussed ways to follow up on the agreement reached during the first summit between Kim and Moon in April, including military, sports and forestry cooperation," a unification ministry official told reporters as quoted by Reuters.
"The North suggests that officials, politicians and private sector members from both sides should take part in the celebration of the first inter-Korean summit," the official added.
South Korea itself called for the immediate launch of a joint liaison office in the border town of North Korea, Kaesong, where the two Koreas operate the plant site together until closed in 2016.
"The North approved it but said it needed some improvements because the facility was not being used," the official said.
Ri Son-gwon blames Cho Myoung-gyon during the meeting for having a "serious situation" that caused North Korea to cancel last month's talks at the last minute.
Ri did not provide specific information but Pyongyang has criticized Seoul for allowing Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat for England who defected to South Korea in 2016, held a book launch in parliament in which he portrays Kim Jong-un as impetuous, impulsive and rough.
North Korea also demanded the repatriation of a dozen restaurant workers from the country, who came to South Korea in 2016 through China. Pyongyang claims that they were kidnapped by South Korea. Seoul has said they decided to defect on their own free will.
"We're not talking about what happened in the past. You just need not to repeat it again, "said Ri.
He also said the issues that were not discussed in his talks with Cho during the January meeting, have since been a source of unbelief between North Korea and South Korea.
"It's a very serious matter. Depending on how to lead public opinion, it will decide whether an atmosphere of reconciliation and cooperation, or distrust and confrontation are created between North and South, "Ri said.
Cho himself said he agreed the parties should increase the transparency of what is being discussed in the talks and accelerate efforts to improve bilateral ties.
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