New Reunions Planned, But Other Issues Snag

South and North Korea agreed on Tuesday to hold the next exchange of separated Korean families Dec. 10 at scenic Mount Geumgang.

But they bickered over the venue for inter-Korean economic talks, failing for a second day to hammer out a joint press communique to conclude the ministerial dialogue that began on Friday.

Intense negotiations that continued into early Tuesday morning preceded the agreement that 200 separated Korean families would reunite next month at Mount Geumgang, instead of the North Koreans traveling to Seoul and the South Koreans to Pyeongyang, as had been the protocol for the first three reunions.

The two sides agreed that the seventh ministerial dialogue will be held in Seoul. The date is yet to be set.

They also agreed that the issue of Seoul's heightened security measures in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States would be mentioned as the first point in a five-point press communique.

The North has insisted throughout the four days that the South must offer an "expression of regret" for putting its forces on alert. Its delegates charged that the measure targeted North Korea.

"We cannot divulge just exactly what the wording is, but it will be one of neutral tone," said a South Korean delegate, insisting on anonymity.

But talks ground to another halt over the venue for the economic talks that had been scheduled for Oct. 23, before being canceled by North Korea.

The southern delegation said that the meeting, which will deal primarily with Seoul's provision of 300,000 tons of rice to Pyeongyang and other economic cooperative projects, should be held in Seoul. The northern delegation is insisting on Mount Geumgang.

South Korea's chief delegate, Unification Minister Hong Soon-young, held back departure of the Hyundai tourist boat, which was to have brought the delegation home, for two hours, keeping some 560 tourists waiting.

Finally, he decided to keep talking for another day. On Wednesday, however, the government will have to provide an emergency ship to bring back the delegation.

by Lee Young-jong