North's envoys arrive for 3-day talks

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North's envoys arrive for 3-day talks

North Korean delegates arrived in Seoul on Tuesday to resume economic talks focusing on reconnecting the railway and road across the Demilitarized Zone.

The delegation consists of 30 members, including the five negotiators, along with assistants and journalists. It was led by Park Chang-ryon, first deputy chief of the National Planning Committee.

On arrival, Mr. Park read a statement that said, "We hope to open the way to unification and economic revival and national reconciliation and unity by wisely adopting the June 15 Joint Declaration as a cornerstone."

The North Korean delegates added that they would do their utmost best to reach an agreement through this meeting.

The economic talks have been stalled for nearly 20 months after the relationship of the two Koreas deteriorated with the hard-line policy introduced by U.S. President George W. Bush, who labeled the Stalinist state as part of an axis of evil along with Iran and Iraq. The freeze was broken earlier this month when a cabinet-level meeting of the two Koreas agreed to hold a meeting of the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Committee.

The three-day talks are expected to cover several topics in addition to reconnecting the railway. These include building an industrial complex in North Korea and flood prevention measures on the Imjin River that flows through both countries.

The South's delegation is led by the deputy minister of finance and economy, Yoon Jin-sik. He is expected to press Pyeongyang for practical steps, especially on the railroad connection, on which North Korea has failed so far to fulfill commitments undertaken at the inter-Korean summit in 2000. South Korea will seek a specific date for breaking ground next month so that the relinking can be completed by the end of the year.

A welcoming dinner reception sponsored by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun was held Tuesday evening. The formal talks are to begin Wednesday.

by Kim Chang-woo

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