Gist of South Korea's statement on outcome of inter-Korean talks

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- The following is the gist of a statement released by
South Korea on the outcome of inter-Korean talks Tuesday at a joint industrial
park in North Korea.

-- South and North Korea held several contacts at the Kaesong industrial complex
and exchanged their positions. At the talks, the North Korean side stated its
position as follows:
-- First, (North Korea) will review all systematic benefits it has given to the
South for the Kaesong industrial complex project. To this end, (North Korea) will
revise the contract on the land lease at the Kaesong industrial complex that
currently places a 10-year grace period for payment of land use fees from 2014 to
instead make (South Korea) pay the fees after a six-year grace period. Wages for
North Korean workers at the complex will be adjusted.
-- Second, negotiations will start to review existing contracts related to the
Kaesong industrial complex project.
-- Regarding these matters, our (South Korean) side expressed our position on
South-North relations and current issues as follows:
-- First, (North Korea) must immediately end its behavior that escalates tension
and invokes only regrets and disappointments for us as well as those of the
international community, such as declaring void South-North agreements that aim
to ease political and military confrontation.
-- Our side clearly pointed out that our activity in the PSI (Proliferation
Security Initiative) that the North Korean side is criticizing is an issue of
universal value sought by mankind for security, and that North Korea's claim that
it is a declaration of confrontation and a declaration of war is unreasonable.
-- Second, regarding the issue of the (South Korean) individual being held at
Kaesong, our side pointed out the North Korean side is violating South-North
agreements and urged the North Korean side to immediately hand the person over to
the South.
-- Third, our side urged the North Korean side to withdraw its restrictions on
border crossing and duration of stay that it has been enforcing since December 1.
-- Fourth, noting that we do not criticize North Korea's highest leader as the
South and the North have agreed to mutually respect each other, we urged North
Korea to immediately stop its slander and libel against our chief of state.
-- Lastly, our side proposed a new round of talks between the governments of the
South and the North to resolve current issues, including the issue of access to
the Kaesong complex (by South Korean workers) and their stay at Kaesong.
(END)