ID :
158556
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 12:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/158556
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N. Korea formally calls for expanding talks with S. Korea
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -North Korea sent South Korea a formal proposal on Monday to quickly hold talks on all humanitarian and other mutual issues, including the reunions of families separated by war, as the sides move to hold their first defense talks in months.
The proposal, reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and confirmed by the South's Unification Ministry, is the latest in the communist state's charm offensive after Pyongyang sharply raised tensions by shelling a South Korean border island on Nov. 23.
"Now is the time for the authorities of the North and the South to sit face to face and have exhaustive and constructive talk," the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said in its proposal, according to the KCNA.
The committee "urged once again the south side to seek a sincere negotiated settlement of humanitarian issues including the reunion of separated families and relatives and all other issues of mutual concern," the KCNA said.
In preparation for higher-level talks, the Koreas are expected to hold their first defense talks since September last year. The North Korean military proposed over the weekend that the defense officials of the countries meet earlier than Seoul had hoped for. North Korea also proposed earlier this month that the legislators of the two sides meet to discuss ways to defuse tension on the peninsula.
A South Korean Unification Ministry official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity, told reporters that the latest proposal appeared to carry little significance as it failed to mention the South Korean call for the North to denuclearize.
South Korea says it remains careful about expanding inter-Korean exchanges unless the North agrees to discuss its nuclear arms development with the South and reaffirms its pledge to denuclearize.
"We don't plan to respond to the proposal. It is no different from earlier proposals that we have dismissed as lacking substance," the official said.
The North traditionally shuns discussing its nuclear development with the South, saying it is aimed at deterring a U.S. invasion and therefore must be negotiated with Washington.
The proposal, reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and confirmed by the South's Unification Ministry, is the latest in the communist state's charm offensive after Pyongyang sharply raised tensions by shelling a South Korean border island on Nov. 23.
"Now is the time for the authorities of the North and the South to sit face to face and have exhaustive and constructive talk," the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said in its proposal, according to the KCNA.
The committee "urged once again the south side to seek a sincere negotiated settlement of humanitarian issues including the reunion of separated families and relatives and all other issues of mutual concern," the KCNA said.
In preparation for higher-level talks, the Koreas are expected to hold their first defense talks since September last year. The North Korean military proposed over the weekend that the defense officials of the countries meet earlier than Seoul had hoped for. North Korea also proposed earlier this month that the legislators of the two sides meet to discuss ways to defuse tension on the peninsula.
A South Korean Unification Ministry official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity, told reporters that the latest proposal appeared to carry little significance as it failed to mention the South Korean call for the North to denuclearize.
South Korea says it remains careful about expanding inter-Korean exchanges unless the North agrees to discuss its nuclear arms development with the South and reaffirms its pledge to denuclearize.
"We don't plan to respond to the proposal. It is no different from earlier proposals that we have dismissed as lacking substance," the official said.
The North traditionally shuns discussing its nuclear development with the South, saying it is aimed at deterring a U.S. invasion and therefore must be negotiated with Washington.
