By Kim Bo-eun
Five members of an association of civic groups seeking cooperation with North Korea arrived in Pyongyang, Monday, to discuss inter-Korean affairs.
The delegation is headed by Kim Hong-gul, chairman of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. He is the third son of the late President Kim Dae-jung, known for his policy of engagement and reconciliation with the North.
The association is seeking to discuss the issue of receiving the remains from Japan of victims of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule. The remains of around 2,200 victims are known to be in Japan.
Korea was one country during colonial rule. North Korea has shown a willingness to take part in the effort.
Seeking to receive the remains from Japan is to remind people of both the South and North that they were once the same country, chairman Kim told reporters at the Beijing Airport on Sunday.
During the visit, the association will likely reach an agreement with its counterpart in the North on drawing up a committee for the purpose.
It is also expected to discuss means to expand inter-Korean exchanges.
To enable this, it will discuss plans to establish a joint office with the North's association to facilitate communication.
The groups are also considering setting up an Asia-Pacific Peace Center, for discussions about a peaceful unification.
Moreover, since the association marks its 20th anniversary this year, it will discuss plans to hold a joint event within the year.
The members will return to Seoul after their four-day trip on Thursday. It is Kim's first visit to the North since he visited as part of the South Korean delegation paying respects to the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il when he died in December 2011. At the time, he met with North Korea's current leader Kim Jong-un.
Five members of an association of civic groups seeking cooperation with North Korea arrived in Pyongyang, Monday, to discuss inter-Korean affairs.
The delegation is headed by Kim Hong-gul, chairman of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. He is the third son of the late President Kim Dae-jung, known for his policy of engagement and reconciliation with the North.
The association is seeking to discuss the issue of receiving the remains from Japan of victims of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule. The remains of around 2,200 victims are known to be in Japan.
Korea was one country during colonial rule. North Korea has shown a willingness to take part in the effort.
Seeking to receive the remains from Japan is to remind people of both the South and North that they were once the same country, chairman Kim told reporters at the Beijing Airport on Sunday.
During the visit, the association will likely reach an agreement with its counterpart in the North on drawing up a committee for the purpose.
It is also expected to discuss means to expand inter-Korean exchanges.
To enable this, it will discuss plans to establish a joint office with the North's association to facilitate communication.
The groups are also considering setting up an Asia-Pacific Peace Center, for discussions about a peaceful unification.
Moreover, since the association marks its 20th anniversary this year, it will discuss plans to hold a joint event within the year.
The members will return to Seoul after their four-day trip on Thursday. It is Kim's first visit to the North since he visited as part of the South Korean delegation paying respects to the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il when he died in December 2011. At the time, he met with North Korea's current leader Kim Jong-un.
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