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The first inter-Korean prime ministers' talks in 15 years opened in Seoul on Wednesday. The North Korean delegation, which consists mainly of economic experts, appeared mostly interested in the implementation of economic points in an agreement reached at the October inter-Korean summit. It looked as if North Korea wanted to break ground for various projects before power changes hands in South Korea.
At the meeting at the Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday, North Korean Premier Kim Yong-il reportedly set out plans to establish shipbuilding complexes in North Korea¡¯s Anbyon and Nampo as soon as possible. A South Korean Unification Ministry official said, "The construction of shipyards in the North is a civilian project. But the government also has a lot to support it with, including the construction of infrastructure. Construction of the shipyards will highly likely begin this year."
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Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (right) and his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong-il shake hands before a plenary session of the first round of the inter-Korean prime ministers' talks held at the Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. /Yonhap
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The North Korean delegation reportedly suggested that the South make bold investments in North Korean infrastructure. At this year's inter-Korean summit, both Koreas agreed to repair the Kaesong-Shinuiju Railway Line and the Kaesong-Pyongyang Highway for the purpose of using them jointly. The two Koreas have already reached agreement on package tours to Mt. Baekdu that will earn North Korea some much-needed hard currency.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in return called for cargo trains to and from the Kaesong Industrial Complex to run on a regular basis, for the use of the Internet to be permitted at the industrial complex, and for customs procedures there to be simplified. Han also laid out guidelines for establishing a joint fishing zone in the West Sea and suggested setting up a new organization to implement the peace zone agreement.
During the meeting, the North Korean premier said, "Let's carry everything out well now that our general (North Korean leader Kim Jong-il) has paved the way for it."
Nam Joo-hong, a political scientist at Kyonggi University, said, "It seems both Koreas want to take economic cooperation projects to a point where they become irreversible before power changes hands in South Korea.¡± But he warned it would be ¡°irrational¡± to reach hasty agreements that would burden to the next government.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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