North Korea Realigns Key Committees

North Korea's National Reconciliation Committee, which has been in charge of civilian exchanges with South Korea, will now also assume responsibilities concerning high-level inter-Korean exchanges, a Pyongyang source in Seoul said Monday.

Until now, the so-called Asia-Pacific Peace Committee has been in charge of high-level inter-Korean exchanges.

"North Korea has completely tranferred the duties of the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which has been the main North Korean body in charge of inter-Korean exchanges," the source told JoongAng Ilbo.

"From now on, the Peace Committee will only deal with major inter-Korean projects, such as the Hyundai project, and will also concentrate on relations with the United States and Japan."

A Unification Ministry official said the North's decision to make changes in its organizations is likely to have resulted from the flurry of ties with South Korea and the United States.

Some South Koreans have expressed concern that the warming relations between the United States and North Korea burdened North Korea as it seeks to continue its promised projects with the South.

The North failed to provide the names of candidates for the second reunion of separated families, which is scheduled to take place early next month. Furthermore, the North postponed two meetings of working-level officials, including those in economic talks.