It is the last day of the 2nd Defense Ministerial Talks today, the 29th of November. Both sides, the South and the North held an executive meeting to tune the draft agreements exchanged yesterday.
At a villa in Songjeonkak, they settled almost all agreements on military security measures for economic cooperation with the exception of matters concerning the joint fishing area.
Measures that have supposedly been marked for approval include military security measures for opening freight rail services between Munsan and Bongdong, the development of the Han River estuary, the passage of civilian vessels via direct routes in Haeju, and the establishment of nonstop flight services between Seoul and Mt. Baekdu.
However, the designation of a joint fishing area in the West Sea will be negotiated later at the General-Level Talks.
The South and the North have been holding their grounds on the issue without any concession since the first day of the talks.
The South has proposed for a joint fishing area of equal expanse on either side of the current NLL. In opposition the North is insisting that the peace waters below located south of the NLL should be designated as a joint fishing area.
An affiliate of the talks said, “The North is actively pursuing an agreement with the South, albeit based on their own interests, in an effort to reap some result at the talks.”
Kim Jang Soo, the Minister of National Defense, together with the other 30 South Korean delegates, is supposed to leave Sunan Airport for Seoul through the West Sea direct line around 3 p.m. on the 29th, but the trip has been delayed.
