It has been revealed that high-level officials from North
and South Korea will convene for talks at Panmunjom tomorrow, Wednesday 12th
February, at 10am.
This is the first high-level bilateral meeting since
President Park Geun Hye took power in South Korea early in 2013. The South
Korean delegation will be led by Blue House [the office of President Park]
official Kim Kyu Hyun. He will be joined by, for the North, United Front
Department Vice-director Won Dong Yon.
According to the Ministry of Unification, North Korea first
proposed high-level dialogue on the 8th via the Panmunjom
communications line. This was followed by a period of secret discussion prior
to today’s agreement. It was North Korea’s
request that a “Blue House official” lead the South Korean
delegation.
Ministry of Unification spokesperson Kim Ui Do told
reporters moments ago, “No agenda for this meeting has
been decided; however, primary matters of concern will be discussed, such as
the smooth running and continuous holding of separated family reunions.“
Lee Su Seok of the Institute for National Security Strategy
commented to Daily NK, “Since Kim Jong Eun mentioned improving inter-Korean relations
in his New Year’s Address, there has been successively the National Defense
Commission proposal and then the military stopped slandering the South.” He added, “There is pressure from the United Front Department to produce visible
results regarding South Korea.”
