Two Koreas hold high-level talks in Kaesong

By Park Sae-jin Posted : December 11, 2015, 13:41 Updated : December 11, 2015, 13:41

[Courtesy of Ministry of Unification]



South and North Korea holds high-level talks on Friday in their latest attempt to improve their frosty ties.

The vice-ministerial meeting at a joint industrial park in North Korea's border city of Kaesong is expected to cover various issues, including family reunions and the resumption cross-border tours from the South to Mount Kumgang resort in the North, which has been suspended since 2008 following the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist.

No major breakthrough is expected at Friday’s meeting, but it is meaningful that the two Koreas have kept their dialogue channels open since they reach a deal on Aug 25 to defuse a crisis that had pushed both sides to the brink of a military clash.

In August, the two sides held lengthy border talks and agreed to resume a high-level dialogue. Seoul later switched off propaganda loudspeakers at the heavily fortified border after the North expressed regret over a land mine blast that maimed two South Korean soldiers

South Korea's Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said on Friday "what's important is to keep the momentum from the deal reached on Aug. 25 going."

Before his departure for the meeting Kaesong, South Korea’s chief delegate Vice Unification Minister Hwang Boo-gi told reporters "there are many issues between the two Koreas to solve" and "the South Korean delegates will do best to solve them one by one."

Hwang and his North Korean counterpart Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, will lead the inter-Korean dialogue.

The South is expected to place a priority on the issue of separated families, calling for regular reunions for them.

North Korea is likely to call on Seoul to resume the tour program e at Mount Kumgang, a once-lucrative source of cash for the impoverished state.

By Alex Lee
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