The North Korean delegate proposed to "bring down walls and open a big road" at the first general meeting of the vice ministerial talks between the North and South at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Friday morning.
"We came yesterday (to Gaeseon
The North Korean delegate proposed to "bring down walls and open a big road" at the first general meeting of the vice ministerial talks between the North and South at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Friday morning.
"We came yesterday (to Gaeseong) and thought about ongoing projects while looking around downtown Gaeseong," Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said in an introductory remark.
"The weather is cold because it is winter but anyhow, with the North and South having met, let us have a long-due dialogue. Although it is winter, let us make an effort on each part to make the warm spring sun come out."
The South's Vice Unification Minister, Hwang Boo-gi, said: "We are hosting the first vice-ministerial talks. It is important for us to walk the road properly when we first start off.
Let us pave the first road well to open a big road headed for unification."
Jon mentioned that there were no talks for almost eight years, with the exception of some meetings between high-level officials.
"I believe that the talks to thaw the ties between the North and South actually start now," he said.
"Distrust and conflict have deepened and walls have risen but let us bring down the walls and fill the gaps and pave a big road."
Hwang agreed. "Let us do that," he said. "Let us negotiate step by step and figure out many of the issues at hand."
The first general meeting, which began around 10:40 a.m., ended in 30 minutes _ earlier than expected. The parties are expected to have meetings after lunch to discuss two major issues _ continued reunions for family members separated during the Korean War and the resumption of the joint Mt. Geumgang tours in the North.
g) and thought about ongoing projects while looking around downtown Gaeseong," Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said in an introductory remark.
"The weather is cold because it is winter but anyhow, with the North and South having met, let us have a long-due dialogue. Although it is winter, let us make an effort on each part to make the warm spring sun come out."
The South's Vice Unification Minister, Hwang Boo-gi, said: "We are hosting the first vice-ministerial talks. It is important for us to walk the road properly when we first start off.
Let us pave the first road well to open a big road headed for unification."
Jon mentioned that there were no talks for almost eight years, with the exception of some meetings between high-level officials.
"I believe that the talks to thaw the ties between the North and South actually start now," he said.
"Distrust and conflict have deepened and walls have risen but let us bring down the walls and fill the gaps and pave a big road."
Hwang agreed. "Let us do that," he said. "Let us negotiate step by step and figure out many of the issues at hand."
The first general meeting, which began around 10:40 a.m., ended in 30 minutes _ earlier than expected. The parties are expected to have meetings after lunch to discuss two major issues _ continued reunions for family members separated during the Korean War and the resumption of the joint Mt. Geumgang tours in the North.
"We came yesterday (to Gaeseon
The North Korean delegate proposed to "bring down walls and open a big road" at the first general meeting of the vice ministerial talks between the North and South at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Friday morning.
"We came yesterday (to Gaeseong) and thought about ongoing projects while looking around downtown Gaeseong," Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said in an introductory remark.
"The weather is cold because it is winter but anyhow, with the North and South having met, let us have a long-due dialogue. Although it is winter, let us make an effort on each part to make the warm spring sun come out."
The South's Vice Unification Minister, Hwang Boo-gi, said: "We are hosting the first vice-ministerial talks. It is important for us to walk the road properly when we first start off.
Let us pave the first road well to open a big road headed for unification."
Jon mentioned that there were no talks for almost eight years, with the exception of some meetings between high-level officials.
"I believe that the talks to thaw the ties between the North and South actually start now," he said.
"Distrust and conflict have deepened and walls have risen but let us bring down the walls and fill the gaps and pave a big road."
Hwang agreed. "Let us do that," he said. "Let us negotiate step by step and figure out many of the issues at hand."
The first general meeting, which began around 10:40 a.m., ended in 30 minutes _ earlier than expected. The parties are expected to have meetings after lunch to discuss two major issues _ continued reunions for family members separated during the Korean War and the resumption of the joint Mt. Geumgang tours in the North.
g) and thought about ongoing projects while looking around downtown Gaeseong," Jon Jong-su, vice director of the secretariat of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said in an introductory remark.
"The weather is cold because it is winter but anyhow, with the North and South having met, let us have a long-due dialogue. Although it is winter, let us make an effort on each part to make the warm spring sun come out."
The South's Vice Unification Minister, Hwang Boo-gi, said: "We are hosting the first vice-ministerial talks. It is important for us to walk the road properly when we first start off.
Let us pave the first road well to open a big road headed for unification."
Jon mentioned that there were no talks for almost eight years, with the exception of some meetings between high-level officials.
"I believe that the talks to thaw the ties between the North and South actually start now," he said.
"Distrust and conflict have deepened and walls have risen but let us bring down the walls and fill the gaps and pave a big road."
Hwang agreed. "Let us do that," he said. "Let us negotiate step by step and figure out many of the issues at hand."
The first general meeting, which began around 10:40 a.m., ended in 30 minutes _ earlier than expected. The parties are expected to have meetings after lunch to discuss two major issues _ continued reunions for family members separated during the Korean War and the resumption of the joint Mt. Geumgang tours in the North.
