North’s 1st inter-Korean gathering of scientists

Chemical scientists from South Korea and North Korea held a five-day academic seminar last week to discuss ways to promote exchanges and joint studies, a private South Korean scientists’ group said yesterday.
The May 7-11 seminar in the North’s capital, Pyongyang, drew 60 chemical scientists from South Korea and 50 from North Korea, the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies in Seoul said in a statement.
“Scientists from the two sides were able to conclude a purely-academic meeting, which will serve as a cornerstone in future cross-border science talks,” Chae Young-bok, the chairman of the federation, said.
The participants exchanged views on four different areas of chemistry, including nanotechnology and high-molecular chemistry, he said.
It was the first such meeting to be held in North Korea. Scientists from both Koreas have previously met in China and other third countries to exchange views.
The two Koreas were divided in 1945. People from either side cannot visit the other without prior approval from their government.