2 KOREANS HOLD MORE TALKS TODAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T02051R000200350047-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 47
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2011/08/12 : CIA-RDP05TO2051 R000200350047-0
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Koreas hold more talks today
By Mike Breen
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
SEOUL, South Korea - In a con-
ciliatory mood after its success as
host of the summer Olympics last
month, South Korea returns to the
the conference table with commu-
nist North Korea today to test
whether trade ties, summit talks and
reconciliation are in the cards.
The meeting at the truce village
of Panmunjom in the de-militarized
zone dividing the peninsula will
mark the fifth attempt in recent
months to arrange a major confer-
ence between lawmakers from the
two rival states to discuss a lessen-
ing of tensions.
In a bid to unblock the negoti-
ations and ensure that a substantial
full-dress meeting can be arranged,
Seoul officials say they are planning
to accept North Korean proposals
they had rejected at earlier meet-
ings.
Some diplomats and journalists
expect the North to agree to the
Souths call for a summit between
{'resident Koh 'Pte-woo and Pyong-
vangs Kim Il-sung. Others, however,
I expect the communists to reject the
summit moves and launch a fresh
barrage of demands in order to end
the parliamentary talks.
''North Korea is not about to start
talking with us," said Lee Kang-gul,
an editorial writer with the daily
I Yong hyang Shinmun. But they
ntay start to make approaches to
Washington and Tbkyo:' tional Assembly representatives
In another diplomatic payoff from and its 655 Supreme Peoples Assem-
the Olympics, the Transport Minis- bly delegates plus representatives
try said yesterday that China - one from,, social groups." The South held
of North Korea's main backers - out for more manageable numbers.
has agreed to allow South Korea's The "political sources" said Seoul
national airline to continue on a would also drop its objection to the
month-to-month basis overflights of Norths preferred agenda - a non-
China allowed by special arrange- aggression agreement. "Non-aggres
ment during the Olympics.. sion" has hitherto been interpreted
Korean Air and the Civil Aviation in the South as a ploy to engineer the
Administration of China have removal of the 42,000 U.S. forces in
South Korea.
agreed that 17 Korean Air flights National Assembly sources said
from Seoul to Bangkok may pass Seouls five-man delegation will sug-
over China this month, a ministry gest a closed-door meeting today to
spokesman said. This flight path prevent it from being turned into a
cuts 41 minutes flying time from the forum for propaganda.
route, which includes stops in Thi- Seoul also will press its point at
wan and Hong Kong, he said. the United Nations next week when
Ministry officials declined to say President Roh The-woo delivers his
if a similar arrangement is being scheduled address to the General
worked out with Moscow - North Assembly. He is expected to repeat
Korea's other main backer. South his call for a summit with the Norths
Korean officials have said they hope leader of 40 years, Kim II-sung. It is
flights over the Soviet Union to Eu- the first U.N. address by a Korean
rope allowed during the Olympics leader.
would continue after the games. $eouls Foreign Minister Choi
Seoul has given Pyongyang ad- Kwang-soo suggested this week that
en-
Vance notice through press leaks of South into the world body if the North
its tactical about-face.
Newspapers here carried reports continues to oppose simultaneous
yesterday quoting unidentified "po- entry. The North maintains that en-
litical sources" as saying the govern- try of the two Korea into the United
ment and political parties would Nations would most likely perma-
agree to a North Korean proposal for nently seal their division.
tariff-
a "mass participatory" conference free trade week Seoul proposed Koreas
in At and removed a ban on its business-
At the earlier talks pursuing deals with North Ko-
September, the North ierin called August for r and a
conference conference between Seouls 299 Na. rea.
Approved For Release 2011/08/12 : CIA-RDP05TO2051 R000200350047-0