By Xu Aiying and Sohn JiAe

More details about the launch and operation of a preparation committee for the expected inter-Korean talks have been revealed.

In a press briefing on March 15, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom outlined how the committee of eight people was set up and explained that it would hold its first general meeting on March 16.

Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok heads the new preparation committee, and Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-Gyon will serve as an administrator.

Committee members include Chief of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong, Chief of Staff for Policy Chang Ha-sung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon and Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Hong Nam-ki.

The committee is divided into three subcommittees, covering the agenda, communications & public relations, and then operations support.

The agenda subcommittee, led by Vice Minister of Unification Chun Haesung, will establish the agenda and strategies for the summit. The communications & public relations subcommittee, headed by senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young Chan, will plan strategies to promote the upcoming talks.

Lastly, the operations support subcommittee, under NIS second deputy director Kim Sang-gyun, will undertake situation management and support the planning process.

The committee will hold general meetings once a week or once every one or two weeks and will also have working-level meetings three or four times a week. The working-level meetings will be presided over by the committee head, Im, with administrator Cho and the chiefs of the three subcommittees in attendence.

Cheong Wa Dae said that, “The prep committee has been set in motion with members of the government and Cheong Wa Dae, and will be operated systematically and effectively. Compared to the one for the 2007 inter-Korean summit, the committee this time has been simplified so as to handle tasks more easily and more swiftly.”

xuaiy@korea.kr