ID :
26791
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 10:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/26791
The shortlink copeid
Two Koreas to hold military dialogue on hotlines
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Working-level military officials from the divided Koreas were to meet later Monday for talks that are likely to turn into accusations of propaganda.
The meeting follows an unexpected proposal by the communist North, which has cut
off most of its official dialogue channels with the Seoul government since South
Korean President Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated in February.
The sides held military dialogue earlier this month after a near nine-month
hiatus, but that meeting ended in just a few hours as North Korean delegates used
the venue solely to criticize Seoul for spreading propaganda leaflets in the
North that slandered their leader Kim Jong-il.
Pyongyang this time proposed the sides discuss issues related to repairing
military hotlines, but officials here believe the communist nation will likely
address the leaflet issue again, if not repeat its threats against the South.
"At the upcoming contact, issues related to pending problems between the sides,
including the repairing of the military communication channels, will be
discussed," the Defense Ministry said in a released statement.
The talks were to begin 10 a.m. at a jointly controlled area on a western route
that connects South Korea's Munsan and the North's Kaesong. The talks will
involve four lieutenant colonel-grade officials from both sides, according to the
ministry.
Currently, there are nine military communication lines between the divided
Koreas, but western lines have been out of operation since May, ministry
officials said.
South Korea agreed late last year to help modernize the North's outdated
communications systems to secure better communication channels with the communist
state, but has yet to do so amid continued tension with Pyongyang, which
frequently calls the South Korean president a traitor.
"The Lee Myung-bak group's reckless suppression of the pro-reunification
democratic forces is a frontal challenge to the South Korean people who desire
new politics and new life, and a crime against the nation and reunification,"
Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper published by the North's ruling Workers' Party, said
in a commentary last week.
The same newspaper also said the North could consider freezing all relations
between the two Koreas if what it called South Korea's group of traitors "keeps
to the road of reckless confrontation" with the North.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Working-level military officials from the divided Koreas were to meet later Monday for talks that are likely to turn into accusations of propaganda.
The meeting follows an unexpected proposal by the communist North, which has cut
off most of its official dialogue channels with the Seoul government since South
Korean President Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated in February.
The sides held military dialogue earlier this month after a near nine-month
hiatus, but that meeting ended in just a few hours as North Korean delegates used
the venue solely to criticize Seoul for spreading propaganda leaflets in the
North that slandered their leader Kim Jong-il.
Pyongyang this time proposed the sides discuss issues related to repairing
military hotlines, but officials here believe the communist nation will likely
address the leaflet issue again, if not repeat its threats against the South.
"At the upcoming contact, issues related to pending problems between the sides,
including the repairing of the military communication channels, will be
discussed," the Defense Ministry said in a released statement.
The talks were to begin 10 a.m. at a jointly controlled area on a western route
that connects South Korea's Munsan and the North's Kaesong. The talks will
involve four lieutenant colonel-grade officials from both sides, according to the
ministry.
Currently, there are nine military communication lines between the divided
Koreas, but western lines have been out of operation since May, ministry
officials said.
South Korea agreed late last year to help modernize the North's outdated
communications systems to secure better communication channels with the communist
state, but has yet to do so amid continued tension with Pyongyang, which
frequently calls the South Korean president a traitor.
"The Lee Myung-bak group's reckless suppression of the pro-reunification
democratic forces is a frontal challenge to the South Korean people who desire
new politics and new life, and a crime against the nation and reunification,"
Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper published by the North's ruling Workers' Party, said
in a commentary last week.
The same newspaper also said the North could consider freezing all relations
between the two Koreas if what it called South Korea's group of traitors "keeps
to the road of reckless confrontation" with the North.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
