By Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korea's point man on inter-Korean affairs said Friday he is confidant that North Korea will show a sincere attitude during the inter-Korean military talks to be held by generals next week.
``I judge the North's military has acknowledged the importance of the train test runs,'' Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said in a weekly press briefing. ``I hope for a positive outcome in the three-day talks.''
The talks will be held from May 8 at Tongil-gak, a pavilion at the truce village of Panmunjom, to discuss ways of ensuring safe operations of the long-delayed test runs of inter-Korean railways slated for May 17.
The minister recalled the North's abrupt cancellation of previous test runs in May last year under apparent pressure from its hard-line military.
``Both South and North Korea have made big efforts to prepare for the test runs,'' Lee said. ``As it was cancelled last year and the two sides feel the need to carry out the test for inter-Korean train operations, I'm positive about next week's talks.''
The Ministry of Defense in Seoul also announced earlier in the day that it had agreed to hold the high-profile military talks with North Korea next week.
Pyongyang proposed military talks between generals earlier this week in response to Seoul's initial request for colonel-level discussions on the matter.
It would mark the first generals' talks in nearly a year between the rival militaries.
Army Maj. Gen. Jeong Seung-jo is to lead the four-member South Korean delegation and the North's four-member team will be headed by two-star general Kim Young-chol, according to the Defense Ministry.
Meanwhile, the minister vowed South Korea would continue to improve its ties with North Korea despite the delayed shutdown of the North's nuclear reactor.
``I believe we cannot give up South-North relations under any circumstances and that we must never stop trying to create alternative solutions to overcome obstacles,'' Lee said.
The remarks came shortly after U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Alexander Vershbow said inter-Korean relations must keep pace with progress in international talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting in Seoul, the U.S. ambassador also said it was important for Seoul to send Pyongyang the same message as the one being channeled to the reclusive nation through the six-nation nuclear talks.