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South and North Korean railway experts conduct a joint inspection of a track near Kamho Station, Kangwon Province, along the East Sea line on July 20. (provided by the Ministry of Unification)
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Discussions for permanent reunion center for divided families and co-hosting Olympics also scheduled
The government will seek to conduct an on-site survey by mid-October in order to connect the Donghae (East Sea) and Seohae (West Sea) railway lines and roads. There is also a plan to discuss the possibility of talks between the North and South Korean Red Cross Societies regarding the permanent operation of a reunion center for divided families. Blue House Spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom revealed these details on Sept. 28 at a briefing following a meeting of the committee established to implement the Panmunjom Declaration and Pyongyang Declaration jointly made by North and South Korea, which is being led by Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok. “If we want to break ground with North Korea on the railway lines and roads along the East and West Seas by the end of the year, as outlined in the Pyongyang Declaration, then we must get started with an on-site survey by mid-October,” Kim said, adding that the government would consult closely with the UN Command regarding a joint on-site survey conducted by South and North Korea. “There has been sufficient communication about the Pyongyang Declaration and the denuclearization of the peninsula through President Moon Jae-in’s keynote address at the UN General Assembly and the summits he has had with President Trump, that we expect practical consultation and negotiations to go forward smoothly,” Kim said. “We plan to discuss the possibility of a permanently operating reunion center and measures such as video reunions and letter exchanges at Red Cross talks in mid-October,” Kim stated, regarding the issue of reunions between divided families. He said that the committee also plans to discuss possible measures to put together a unified South and North Korea team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in time for the qualifying rounds. He also said that the committee will discuss a plan to introduce an early joint bid to the International Olympic Committee for the two Koreas to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, and a plan to hold an exhibition of cultural relics from North Korea as part of the Goryeo exhibition hosted by the National Museum of Korea . The committee has outlined a three-pronged agenda for progress, which consists of swiftly carrying out the agreements of the Pyongyang Declaration, pushing negotiations for denuclearization between North Korea and the US via the fruits of the inter-Korean summit, and expanding support for the implementation both domestically and internationally. During the meeting on Sept. 28, the committee added to their original three subcommittees of developing inter-Korean relations, denuclearization and communication and PR by taking on arms control. By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
