Koreas to hold military talks

South and North Korea agreed to hold military talks to discuss issues related to border transit, customs clearance and telecommunications in the joint factory park in Gaeseong.

Monday`s talks on the Gaeseong enclave were broken off as the two sides were at odds over what to discuss first.

The South suggested simplifying procedures for border passage and customs clearance as well as setting up an internet network in the Gaeseong park.

"We proposed using electronic tags for border transit, adopting a selective inspection system for customs clearance and starting internet services in the near future," said Kim Young-tak, senior representative for inter-Korean dialogue who led the South Korean delegation to Gaeseong.

The North renewed its proposal to discuss these matters in separate military talks and the South agreed.



"The South Korean officials who sat down for the talks in Gaeseong will take part in the military talks," Kim said.

The military working-level talks are expected to be held after talks on resuming South Korean tours to the North`s Mount Geumgang resort and Gaeseong.

The South Korean government has proposed next Monday as the date for talks on the stalled tour business and is still waiting for the North`s reply.

"The core agenda of the talks on the tours is setting new rules to ensure the safety of tourists, which requires approval from the North Korean military," an official here said.

"We plan to inform the North this week of the schedules for the military talks."

Other issues concerning the industrial park such as employee dormitories and wages will be discussed after the military talks, Kim Young-tak said.

During Monday`s meeting, the South said the North`s artillery firing in the West Sea last week raised military tensions and that such behavior would do no good to maintaining or improving the Gaeseong complex.

The North accused the South of raising an issue irrelevant to the Gaeseong enclave and claimed that it was part of an annual military drill, according to Kim.

(sophie@heraldm.com)









By Kim So-hyun