Seoul to propose inter-Korean talks on preventing border river flooding

By Tony Chang

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to propose holding talks with North Korea on Wednesday to discuss ways to prevent flooding of the Imjin River that runs across the western section of the inter-Korean border, a ranking government official in Seoul said Monday.

The talks, if realized, will be focused on preventing the recurrence of the
North's sudden water discharge from an upstream dam in September that left six
people dead, said the official, asking anonymity.
"We plan to deliver a letter (as soon as possible) to propose to hold the talks
in the North's (border) city of Kaesong. If the talks are held, they will be
centered on measures to prevent unexpected floods," the official said.
The deadly pre-dawn discharge by the North on Sept. 5 sparked anger in South
Korea. But North Korea simply said it was forced to open the floodgates to lower
the water level and promised to notify the South in the future.
Flash floods have frequently caused damage to farms in South Korean border
regions since North Korea began building dams along the Imjin River in 2000. But
the latest incident was the first to cause human casualties.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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