Inter-Korean Premiers' Talks Yield Substantial Outcome
It is encouraging that the prime ministers of South and North Korea came up with comprehensive agreements during their meeting in Seoul that ended last Friday. Both sides had no particular difficulties reaching a consensus as the 1st inter-Korean Prime Ministers' Meeting was designed to implement the agreement struck between President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in early October.
Due to the top leaders' previous agreements on the principle of peace and reconciliation, the two sides could continue the talks smoothly. They refrained from repeating past practices of engaging in a war of nerves involving politically motivated remarks. North Korea has been showing a sincere attitude in dealing with the inter-Korean issues. We accept North Korea's change as an expression of its willingness to further opening itself to the outside world.
Prompted by the progress in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, international efforts to disable the nuclear facilities in the North have begun to see a tangible outcome. And the North has been demonstrating its willingness to faithfully carry out its pledge to report its nuclear program. A group of North Korean officials recently visited New York to learn state-of-the-art financial know how from world-renowned experts, a fact that heralds the possible U.S. lifting of North Korea from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
Most notably, the two sides agreed to take measures to enliven the sluggish Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the symbolic inter-Korean economic project. Agreement to open Internet and telephone services while facilitating passages should be regarded as remarkable progress. This will lead to further invigorating the industrial park and opening the hitherto reclusive North Korean society in the long run.
Another achievement is the accord in creating a peace and cooperation zone in the border area in West Sea, which will prevent accidental military crashes. Opening of railway services linking Munsan in the South and Bodong in the North also has special meaning as it will reconnect the ``Shineuiju'' line linking Seoul and Shineuiju, which has remained disconnected since the Korean War.
Despite the positive factors, there are still many steps that need to be taken to keep the agreements on track. First, the two Koreas should be able to come to consensus regarding military issues, as many of the cross-border projects require a security guarantee from military authorities.
The two Koreas plan to hold a defense ministers' meeting in Pyongyang Nov. 27-28 to discuss measures to apply the agreements in the premiers' talks. The upcoming presidential election should not be any barrier in inter-Korean relations. Both Seoul and Pyongyang need to faithfully carry out the agreements from a long-term perspective regardless of the outcome of the presidential election.
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