Roh May Visit Gaeseong Complex With NK Leader
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
South Korea is pushing for President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to the Gaeseong Industrial Complex with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on his way back to Seoul Oct. 4, government officials said Wednesday.
A South Korean delegation dispatched to Pyongyang Tuesday began to discuss details for the inter-Korean summit slated for Oct. 2-4 with North Korean officials.
The Ministry of Unification said the two sides worked out details in such areas as security measures, media facilities, protocol and communications.
The South Korean delegates also visited summit venues and hotels for the estimated 200 South Koreans who will accompany President Roh, the ministry said.
Vice Unification Minister Lee Kwan-se represents the South at the preparatory talks, while the North's delegation is headed by a senior official Choi Seung-chul.
If the North agrees to the South's proposal on Roh's visit to the Gaeseong complex, this will be another epoch-making event as the industrial park in the North Korean border city is a big symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
Seoul officials said North Korean officials made a preparatory visit to Gaeseong to check security.
A presidential aide, however, said considering that Kim's schedule is always highly confidential, the two leaders' joint visit would be unannounced until the last moment.
``Anyway, the special itinerary is up to the decision of the North and bilateral discussion for details,'' he added.
Though the official declined to make public how many rounds of Roh-Kim Jong-il talks will take place during the three-day stay, he said discussions will be more significant compared to the 2000 summit between former President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
``We believe the two leaders will discuss all possible agenda profoundly,'' the official said.
He also said the hours of talks between Roh and Kim will be more than those involving other participants such as businessmen and politicians accompanying Roh.
Asked about the possibility of the two Koreas agreeing to hold the summit on a regular basis, he said that the issue could not be set without further talks.