Third working talks in Gaeseong today

The two Koreas will hold their third working-level talks today on current issues at the joint industrial complex in Gaeseong, the last remaining inter-Korean reconciliatory business venture.

The two sides are expected to discuss the release of a South Korean detained in the North, the North`s demand of $500 million for land lease and construction of nurseries, dormitories and roads for commuters.

Seoul is likely to reiterate that it cannot accept Pyongyang`s demands for wage hikes and a land lease increase, which require revision of existing contracts, a stance it had confirmed in the two earlier working-level talks last month.

But Seoul is reportedly open to discussion about building a nursery (for children of female North Korean employees) and employee dorms, provided that Pyongyang guarantees South Koreans` visits, customs and telecommunication.

Under former president Roh Moo-hyun, Seoul had agreed to build dorms and nurseries in Gaeseong but has been reserved about the plan after President Lee Myung-bak took office early last year.



The two Koreas are expected to continue pushing for a joint survey of industrial complexes abroad and the launch of a joint committee on immigration.

The cash-strapped North, however, is likely to press the South with raising the land lease by $500 million.

Pyongyang may also go into more detail about lifting restrictions on South Koreans` border transit, customs and telecommunications, which it said at the last talks that it was willing to discuss.

North Korea offered on June 20 to lift a nearly eight-month-long restriction on South Korean travel to the joint industrial park.

"The (South Korean) government plans to discuss current issues raised by both countries, based on its three principles for the development of the Gaeseong industrial complex - that (the two Koreas) establish firm rules, (run the complex based on) economic fundamentals and seek future-oriented development," the South`s Unification Ministry spokesperson Lee Jong-joo said in a press briefing yesterday.

"We will do our best to resolve our top priority - the (release of a) detained worker."

Yoo Sung-jin, an employee of Hyundai Asan Corp., was arrested on March 30 on charges of criticizing the North`s political system and instigating a female North Korean to defect to the South. Yoo has been denied access to South Korean officials ever since.

A South Korean government official said most of the agenda between the two Koreas has already been laid out in the two previous working-level talks.

"We will be seeing at the talks (today) whether there`s room for discussion on some of the negotiable agenda."

Five officials from each side will be present at the talks today in Gaeseong.

(sophie@heraldm.com)



By Kim So-hyun