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South and North Korea completed the first round of working-level talks in preparation for the inter-Korean summit later this month. Representing the South Korean side were (from left) National Intelligence Service (NIS) second vice director Kim Sang-gyun and included Blue House protocol secretary Cho Han-gi, Spring and Autumn Pavilion (Blue House press center) director Kwon Hyeok-gi, government situation room director Yoon Geon-young, and Blue House Presidential Security Service (PSS) director Shin Yong-wook.
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The discussions focused on protocol, security, and press coverage for the inter-Korean summit later this month
South and North Korea finished a first round of working-level talks on Apr. 5 to prepare for an inter-Korean summit on Apr. 27. The talks, which took place for four hours from 10 am to 2 pm without a lunch break at the House of Peace on the South Korean side of the Panmunjeom Joint Security Area, were focused on the discussion of summit protocols, security, and press coverage. South Korea’s delegation was head by National Intelligence Service (NIS) second vice director Kim Sang-gyun and included Blue House protocol secretary Cho Han-gi, Spring and Autumn Pavilion (Blue House press center) director Kwon Hyeok-gi, government situation room director Yoon Geon-young, and Blue House Presidential Security Service (PSS) director Shin Yong-wook. The North Korean delegation was headed by State Affairs Commission Secretariat Director Kim Chang-son and included Sin Won-chol, Ri Hyon, Ro Kyong-chol, and Kim Chol-gyu. Originally scheduled for Apr. 4 before being postponed one day at Pyongyang’s request, the talks showed both sides making concerted efforts to prepare for the summit, with higher-level senior representatives participating from each. On the decision to replace Cho Han-gi with Kim Sang-gyun as South Korea’s senior representative, the Blue House explained, “A request was made by the North [to the South Korean side] to raise the level [of the senior representative] to assign greater significance to the working-level talks and allow for major decisions to be made.” Kim previously visited North Korea on Mar. 5 as part of a special presidential delegation with Blue House National Security Office director Chung Eui-yong and NIS director Suh Hoon. He also accompanied musicians and a taekwondo demonstration team on a North Korea visit on Mar. 31. North Korea’s senior representative Kim Chang-son is known to serve as a chief of staff to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, serving as support staff during a February South Korea visit by a high-level delegation including Workers’ Party Central Committee first vice director Kim Yo-jong. Topics discussed at the Apr. 5 talks appear to include the route to be taken by Kim Jong-un in traveling over the Military Demarcation Line to the Peace House summit venue, the time and methods for his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the summit times, and the question of lunch or dinner. “We held sincere and detailed discussions for a successful inter-Korean summit,” a senior Blue House official said. “Because the talks had to do with the security and movements [of the South and North Korean leaders], please understand that we cannot give any interim information until a final decision is made,” the official added. Stating that “nothing has been concluded today,” the official continued, “We will be setting a date for a second round of working-level talks ahead. We may need to have discussions next time over whether the second round will be the last or whether we proceed to third or fourth rounds.” Meanwhile, the two sides plan to hold working-level communications talks on Apr. 7 at the Tongilgak building on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom. Discussion topics appear likely to include technical preparations to establish a hotline between the leaders ahead of the Apr. 27 summit. By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
