The Korean government made an official proposal to Pyongyang to hold a meeting in January to discuss topics of mutual interest. Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae of the Ministry of Unification announced on December 29 during a briefing that, "The Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation officially made a proposal to the North to have a meeting on various topics of mutual interest. The message has been sent to the North via telecommunications. We are expecting the North to send a response to our message."



The phone call was made by Minister Ryoo himself, and it was answered by Kim Yang-gon, director of the United Front Department of the Chosun Workers' Party on the morning on December 29. If accepted by North Korea, Minister Ryoo would be the South's chief delegate to the meeting.

Minister Ryoo stressed during the briefing that, "The year 2015 marks the 70th year of the nation's liberation and separation. It's a critical point, when both sides need to work together to achieve reunification of the peninsula."

If accepted by North Korea, the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, a body comprising of both members of the government and civilians, expects the two sides to discuss the preservation of language and folk customs of the two sides, the expansion of sport exchanges, the hosting of a soccer game in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the nation's liberation, an arts festival with the theme of "peace," the hosting of a "global peace conference," the signing of a "cultural agreement," the confirmation of births and deaths between separated families and, finally, the setting up of regular meetings and the exchange of letters and videos between the separated family members.

In addition, the committee is also expected to suggest the prompt construction of an "ecological peace park" in the DMZ, the joint investigation into the ecology of the DMZ with both sides and the international community cooperating, the development of cooperation in the areas of health care services and social infrastructure, the preservation of the environment, the ecology and forests, the joint use of water resources and the establishment of a foundation for basic laws and regulations in preparation for reunification, and, finally, the restoration of railroad links between Najin and Khasan, with the aim of economic development.

Minister Ryoo also said that, "We hope the meeting between separated family members could be held before the Lunar New Year. I hope that I, as head of the unification preparation committee, and Jeong Jong-wook, vice chairman representing the civilian members, could meet with the North in Seoul or Pyongyang or somewhere else, as agreed by both sides."

By Wi Tack-whan, Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writers
whan23@korea.kr