Tuesday, Aug 13, 2002
Tuesday, Aug 13, 2002 |
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By P. S. Suryanarayana
The three-day talks, at the ministerial level, have acquired enormous importance in view of the latest moves by both the United States and Japan to evaluate the intentions of North Korea, which figures in the Bush administrations configuration of a new "axis of evil" in the context of the ongoing globalised campaign against terror. With many South Koreans themselves viewing their skewed equation with the North as potentially the most explosive one in international politics at this time, today's talks got off to a circumspect start. The official word from Seoul was that "there can be no alternative to reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides on the Korean pensinsula. This view was echoed by South Koreas Unification Minister and chief negotiator, Jeong Se-hyun. A prime topic that figured in these preliminary talks, which lasted just over an hour, was the restoration of an old rail link across the demilitarised zone that divides the two Koreas. The need for unusual coordination between the military establishments of the two sides was explored so as to make this project a reality as mutually agreed upon as a concept in the context of the North-South summit of 2000, which in itself was a diplomatic breakthrough on inter-Korean scene. At today's talks, the South Korean delegation offered to work towards an early commencement of ``working-level military talks in this regard. The dangerously mined terrain, which the proposed rail link will criss-cross, is said to be the prime reason for military-level talks in respect of a people-friendly economic project. The other proposals from the South were officially listed as the need for early talks at the levels of the Red Cross and economic groups. The chief North Korean delegate, Kim Ryon-song, was quoted as saying that "the train of high-level (North-South Korean) talks, which was temporarily halted, has been set in motion again." A positive outcome is his stated aim during these discussions, which will resume tomorrow. The move from the South Korean side for military-level talks and coordination, in the specific context of the proposed rail link, assumes much diplomatic significance in the light of a recent naval clash between the two sides. North Korea has expressed regret over the incident without formally tendering an apology. This was cited by the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, as a positive sign which, among other reasons, justified his decision to engage the North Korean Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Regional Forum in Brunei. The possible participation by North Korea in the Busan Asian Games, slated for September-October this year, and South Koreas recent success in hosting World Cup football championship in conjunction with Japan lent a lighter touch, yet a confidence-building mood, to the latest inter-Korean talks.
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