Politics
14:50, 05-Apr-2018
S. Korea, DPRK hold working-level talks on security, protocol for inter-Korean summit
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its southern neighbor, the Republic of Korea (ROK), started working-level talks on Thursday. Among the issues for discussion are protocol and security for the inter-Korean summit later this month, said ROK's presidential office.
The meeting kicked off at around 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on the ROK side, in the border village of Panmunjom, according to the ROK's Blue House.
Nothing was decided at the meeting. The two sides agreed to meet again later to carry out the working-level discussion without specifying a date.
The five-member ROK delegation was led by Kim Sang-gyun, a senior director of the National Intelligence Service.
Four other Blue House officials attended the meeting including: Cho Han-ki, protocol secretary to the president; Shin Yong-wook, a deputy chief for presidential security service; Kwun Hyuk-ki, director of the presidential press center; and Yun Kun-young, director for government situation room.
DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un (R) greets Chung Eui-yong, ROK's national security adviser, in Pyongyang, March 5, 2018. /VCG Photo
DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un (R) greets Chung Eui-yong, ROK's national security adviser, in Pyongyang, March 5, 2018. /VCG Photo
The DPRK delegation was led by Kim Chang Son, an official from the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.
The working-level dialogue comes ahead of the first summit planned between ROK President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on April 27.
If held, Kim will become the first DPRK leader to step onto ROK soil since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice. The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war.
Detailed schedules for the summit meeting and whether a luncheon and banquet are to be held will be discussed.
Separately, the two sides agreed to hold a working-level dialogue on Saturday on the installation of a communication hotline between Moon and Kim.
The leaders of the two countries agreed to set up a direct hotline of dialogue and have the first phone conversation before the agreed summit is held in late April.
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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency