South Korea Presses The North Korea to Follow Through on Disarmament Pledge During Koreas Talks

Seoul Korea—Since the North's atomic test blast last October 9, 2006, The first high level talk was given on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 in Pyhong Yang, North Korea to follow through on its pledge to start dismantling its nuclear which is the first Cabinet-level meetings, the highest regular dialogue channel between the two sides in Pyongyang since last Ocotber. The North Korea proposed a full resumption of humanitarian projects — apparently referring to aid that the South has regularly sent the impoverished North, and to reunions of families separated since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The South's chief delegate, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung, urged the North to "quickly implement the Feb. 13 agreement," said delegation spokesman Lee Kwan-se.

According to Lee he defended its missile tests in July as a "legitimate right for self-defense as a sovereign nation." .

Pyongyang wants to get a firmer North Korean commitment to the international nuclear accord at this week's meetings. But the North has shunned discussing the nuclear issue with the South, saying the matter is only between Pyongyang and Washington.

The North focused instead on inter-Korean issues, proposing to reopen various dialogue channels — including economic cooperation talks and other humanitarian projects that have been on hold over tensions following the North's missile and nuclear tests, Lee said.

The North's proposal was believed to be mainly aimed at getting the South to resume shipments of fertilizer, rice and other economic assistance. The South's aid has propped up the North's frail economy, but were suspended amid the recent tensions.

In exchange, the North is expected to agree to the South's proposal to resume reunions of families separated since the Korean War, another key humanitarian project.

The South also urged the North to end its interference in South Korea's politics, Lee said. The North has recently ratcheted up harsh rhetoric against the main opposition party in Seoul, in an apparent move to prevent its possible win in the December presidential election.

Despite the North's refusal to discuss the nuclear issue with the South, the country has taken other steps showing it is committed to the nuclear deal.

The North already has invited the chief U.N. nuclear inspector to visit to discuss verification of a shutdown of its atomic reactor and its main nuclear negotiator, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, passed through China on Tuesday en route to the United States, where he is expected to meet U.S. diplomats in New York.

In addition, the North will hold talks with Japan on March 7-8 in Vietnam on establishing diplomatic relations and resolving disputes, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Wednesday.

Three other working group meetings — under the Feb. 13 accord aimed at discussing the North's denuclearization, energy aid and making peace on the Korean peninsula — will be held in Beijing the week of March 12, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unidentified South Korean official.

In Washington, Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that U.S. intelligence officials had seen North Korea take preliminary steps toward shutting down its main nuclear reactor.

South Korea wants to get a firmer North Korean commitment to the international nuclear accord at this week's meetings. But North Korea has shunned discussing the nuclear issue with the South as Pyongyang believes it is a matter between it and the United States only.

The North instead focused on bilateral issues, proposing to reopen various channels of dialogue, including economic cooperation talks and other humanitarian projects that have been on hold over tensions following the North's missile and nuclear tests.

The North Korea's tested a nuclear weapons, drawing strong criticism from U.S and the world.

Reported by Sandra Englund February 28, 2007

References:

1) Yahoo News

2) The Fox News

5)Korea AMS Topographic Maps

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