High-level inter-Korean talks end in stalemate

Gaesung industrial complex, North Korea [Courtesy of Gaesung Industry Support Foundation]

High-level talks between North and South Korea have broken up without an agreement, dimming prospects that the two arch enemies will move quickly to improve their frosty ties

Vice Unification Minister Hwang Boogi, South Korea's chief delegate, told reporters Saturday evening after the talks that the two sides had not issued a joint statement.

The most sticking point was the North’s demand for the resumption of cross-border tours of the North’s Mount Kumgang resort, which were suspended in 2008 following the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist

The North insisted that the reinstatement of the tour program should be a prerequisite for any other discussions, including the reunion of separated families between the North and South on a regular basis.

South Korea, however, sought guarantees from the North that the safety of visitors to the Mount Kumgang resort would be assured.

North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said Seoul refused to discuss fundamental issues such as the resumption of the resort tours and stuck to "unfair assertions".

The dispute over the Mount Kumgang tours, a once-lucrative source of cash for the impoverished North, is one of a series of unresolved issues that continue to sour relations on the peninsula.

The meeting was the first high-level discussions over a range of issues following an agreement in August that ended an armed standoff involving an exchange of artillery fire across the inter-Korean border.

Shares of Hyundai Merchant Marine Co plunged on Monday after the high-level meeting failed to produce any agreement.

Hyundai Merchant Marine is the largest shareholder of Hyundai Asan Corp, which operates the Mount Kumgang tour project in North Korea

By Alex Lee

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

High-level inter-Korean talks end in stalemate

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