By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
The government said Thursday that it will seek to establish offices for economic cooperation both in Seoul and Pyongyang next year, before upgrading them to permanent representatives later, to ease inter-Korean consultations.
It will also move to allow South Koreans to leave their estates to their relatives in North Korea even before unification of the two Koreas.
The plans were contained in the ``First Basic Framework of Inter-Korean Relations'' prepared by President Roh Moo-hyun's administration.
However, it is unclear whether an incoming administration next year will implement the plan. President Roh's five-year tenure ends next February as the incumbent is banned from seeking reelection.
The Unification Ministry said the basic framework is subject to changes in relations and the situation of neighboring countries.
It submitted the basic framework to the National Assembly, but lawmakers were divided on whether the government policy requires parliamentary consent.
The basic plans include the vision, purpose and direction of inter-Korean relations for five years beginning 2008.
The aim of the plan, dubbed ``Peace Settlement and Institutionalization of Inter-Korean Reconciliation and Cooperation,'' sets seven basic strategies.
They are realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; establishing a permanent peace mechanism; starting to build an inter-Korean economic community; seeking to recover national identity; resolving humanitarian issues; establishing legal and institutional groundwork; and strengthening cooperation on North Korea policy.
``The installation of permanent representatives was discussed during last month¡?s inter-Korean summit but it was not included in the joint statement,'' a ministry official said. ``We will establish a timetable for opening representative offices.''
To achieve an inter-Korean economic community as early as possible, the government decided to supply infrastructure materials including electricity to North Korea.
Other issues on the agenda include returning prisoners of war and South Koreans kidnapped by the North.
yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
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