President convenes security meeting ahead of talks with N. Korea

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from Cheong Wa Dae official, more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened an
unscheduled meeting of security-related ministers Monday, one day before a group
of South Korean officials were set to travel to North Korea's border town of
Kaesong for the first government-level talks under his administration.
"The president and the ministers reviewed preparations for tomorrow's talks and
discussed other security related issues," an official said, asking not to be
identified.
Seoul had been expected to announce its full membership in a U.S.-led
anti-proliferation regime, the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), this
week, but the announcement was put off after the communist North proposed the
inter-Korean meeting.
A Cheong Wa Dae official later said the government may consider finding a "more
appropriate time" to announce its joining of the PSI, but said its decision
remains firm.
"We are working with every possibility open for discussion, but our basic
principle is firm and clear," the official told reporters, speaking on condition
of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
North Korea has repeatedly warned it will consider Seoul's participation in the
PSI a "declaration of war."
Seoul says the PSI has nothing to do with North Korea or inter-Korean relations,
as the anti-proliferation campaign is aimed at halting the illegal trafficking of
weapons of mass destruction and is not targeted at any specific country.
Cheong Wa Dae officials noted Russia, a long-time ally of North Korea, is also
taking part in the PSI along with 93 other nations.
In a short memo sent on Thursday, Pyongyang said it had an "important message"
for Seoul regarding the joint industrial complex.
An official at Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae earlier said it was not
clear what the North wished to discuss, but noted Tuesday's meeting may not be
"too pleasant."
"We are preparing for every possible scenario," said the official, who is
involved in North Korean affairs.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)