Koreas start talks to discuss summit projects

SOUTH KOREA, Deputy Prime Ministers from North and South Korea on Tuesday began three days of discussions about sweeping economic cooperation projects agreed during a historic summit in October.

The deputy premiers were holding the first meeting of a new inter-Korean joint economic committee.

"We are on the same boat to activate inter-Korean economic projects. Let's move forward by pooling our wisdom and strength," the North's Jon Sung-Hun said in opening remarks, according to media pool reports.

His South Korean counterpart Kwon O-Kyu replied: "I hope the committee will successfully put the final touches to inter-Korean relations."

The 27-member delegation headed by Jon is the third in less than three weeks to visit Seoul, in a sign of warming relations as the North disables its nuclear programmes. Prime ministers met last month to follow up the summit agreements.

Last week senior official Kim Yang-Gon, a close aide to the North's leader Kim Jong-Il, visited for three days of talks and tours of industrial sites. The Seoul government said his visit was also aimed at following up summit pacts.

The two leaders on October 4 called for moves to promote peace and major business projects, including a joint economic zone around the North's southwestern port and naval base of Haeju.

They also called for the expansion of an existing industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong; renovations to the North's dilapidated roads and railways; and joint shipbuilding complexes at Anbyeon and Nampo.

Seoul, Tuesday, AFP