A new round of talks between military leaders from North and South Korea will be held May 16-18 at the House of Peace, located in the South's half of Panmunjom Village at the border, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
A ministry spokesman said Friday that the South earlier this month proposed a meeting of generals from each side, and the North agreed on May 9 to hold what will be the fourth round of talks between military brass on both sides. Generals will discuss methods for preventing clashes and establishing a joint fishing area in the West Sea, as well as military guarantees regarding safe passage on road and railway lines between the two Koreas.
According to the spokesman, the government's first priority will be to sign a written agreement on safe passage should former president Kim Dae-jung travel by train or automobile when he visits Pyongyang next month. A tentative agreement on road transportation was signed in January 2003, but no such arrangement exists regarding rail travel, requiring that military authorities from both sides guarantee safe travel before test runs are done on the new rail link.
A planning meeting between representatives from North and South Korea is scheduled to be held at Mount Kumgang on the same day as the start of the military talks in Panmunjom.
Military to discuss safe land travel to North Korea |
