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Will South-North Relations Move Forward
Free from North Korea's Nuclear Problems?
Suh Bo-hyuk
(Fellow of Korea National Strategy Institute, Seoul)
The relationship between South and North Korea has become much active and alive in recent years, while the plan to release the frozen North Korean accounts at BDA is stuck at a standstill. A meaningful agreement was achieved at the 20th Inter-Korean Cabinet talk that was held in Pyongyang from Feb. 27 till Mar. 2, for the first time in 7 months. Both agreed to make joint efforts into carrying out the 2.13 Agreement that was reached at third phase of the fifth round of the six-party talk, and decided to hold National Unity Festival in both Pyongyang and Seoul, on the occasion of 6.15 (Day of Inter Korean Summit Talk) and 8.15 (Independence Day of Korea). In addition, the two sides held Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting as well as a Conference of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee in Apr. with an aim to discuss humanitarian issues and economic cooperation. Plus, the 9th Inter-Korean Cabinet talk will also be held in Seoul from May. 29- June 1.
Vitalized South-North Relations
Currently, dialogues between two countries are showing relatively smooth progress, in line with the agreement of the latest Cabinet talk. Since the talk, there have been some distinctive achievements, such as Red Cross working-level contact, the meeting of commissioners from Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Committee and the 5th reunions for separated families via video link, which were respectively held in the beginning, middle and the end of Mar. These efforts were followed by some non-official events like a conference by the 6.15 Joint Committee, the visit of celebrities who starred in a drama "Jumong" to North, and North Korean teen soccer team's tour to South.
The 7th and the 8th Inter-Korean Red Cross Meetings were also held in Feb and Apr. respectively, and several points were agreed at the 8th Red Cross meeting as follows; ① Reunions via video link, on the occasion of 8.15 and Chuseok (Korean thanks giving day) this year ② 16th face-to face reunion for separated families and video letter exchange trial on the occasion of Chuseok ③ negotiating/resolving the issues of those who disappeared during or after the Korean War by including them in the subject of separated families ④ promotion of modernization work of Red Cross General Hospital of North Korea (Pyongyang). A great development in humanitarian issues is expected, if these initiatives are successfully implemented... (Con'd)
Korea National Strategy Institute Policy Report [Full Text]
Free from North Korea's Nuclear Problems?
Suh Bo-hyuk
(Fellow of Korea National Strategy Institute, Seoul)
The relationship between South and North Korea has become much active and alive in recent years, while the plan to release the frozen North Korean accounts at BDA is stuck at a standstill. A meaningful agreement was achieved at the 20th Inter-Korean Cabinet talk that was held in Pyongyang from Feb. 27 till Mar. 2, for the first time in 7 months. Both agreed to make joint efforts into carrying out the 2.13 Agreement that was reached at third phase of the fifth round of the six-party talk, and decided to hold National Unity Festival in both Pyongyang and Seoul, on the occasion of 6.15 (Day of Inter Korean Summit Talk) and 8.15 (Independence Day of Korea). In addition, the two sides held Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting as well as a Conference of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee in Apr. with an aim to discuss humanitarian issues and economic cooperation. Plus, the 9th Inter-Korean Cabinet talk will also be held in Seoul from May. 29- June 1.
Vitalized South-North Relations
Currently, dialogues between two countries are showing relatively smooth progress, in line with the agreement of the latest Cabinet talk. Since the talk, there have been some distinctive achievements, such as Red Cross working-level contact, the meeting of commissioners from Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Committee and the 5th reunions for separated families via video link, which were respectively held in the beginning, middle and the end of Mar. These efforts were followed by some non-official events like a conference by the 6.15 Joint Committee, the visit of celebrities who starred in a drama "Jumong" to North, and North Korean teen soccer team's tour to South.
The 7th and the 8th Inter-Korean Red Cross Meetings were also held in Feb and Apr. respectively, and several points were agreed at the 8th Red Cross meeting as follows; ① Reunions via video link, on the occasion of 8.15 and Chuseok (Korean thanks giving day) this year ② 16th face-to face reunion for separated families and video letter exchange trial on the occasion of Chuseok ③ negotiating/resolving the issues of those who disappeared during or after the Korean War by including them in the subject of separated families ④ promotion of modernization work of Red Cross General Hospital of North Korea (Pyongyang). A great development in humanitarian issues is expected, if these initiatives are successfully implemented... (Con'd)
Korea National Strategy Institute Policy Report [Full Text]
