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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| South Korea Agrees to High-Level Talks with North |
| 2011-01-20 |
| South Korean officials say they have tentatively accepted a North Korean proposal to hold high-level military talks. The meetings would be the first known talks between the two countries since tensions flared over a deadly North Korean military attack on a South Korean island in November. A South Korean official said the proposal for talks on "pending issues" was sent Thursday to South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin from his counterpart in the North, Kim Yong Chun. A South Korean defense ministry spokesman told VOA the government is willing to attend such a meeting and will review the offer "carefully and positively." A unification ministry spokesman said the government has made a basic decision to attend the talks, but that no details can yet be announced. South Korea had rejected a series of previous offers for talks from the North as "insincere" propaganda efforts, though none is believed to have come at such a high level. Earlier Thursday, a senior South Korean official said the South is still looking for the North to apologize for two attacks last year that killed a total of 50 people. The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition he not be identified, said the South understands that it may be too difficult for Pyongyang to apologize publicly for the attacks. But, he said, it is "up to them" to figure out "what kind of apology and remarks" they must make to clear the way for a resumption of inter-Korean dialogue. The official also said his government will provide no money or economic assistance to North Korea until it agrees to an end state of its nuclear programs and meets clear time targets. The senior official said an apology from North Korea is more important to the South at this point than a promise not to attack the South again. He said the South has made it very clear through a series of military exercises that it will retaliate militarily to another attack. He said this is the "strongest and most effective way" to prevent new provocations. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #2 SOUTH KOREA > is repor bracing for a new NOKOR "SURPRISE ATTACK" = NEW MIL INCIDENT? despite its acceptance. * TOPIX > [NYT]US WARNING TO CHINA SENDS RIPPLES TO THE TWO KOREAS. ARTIC = POTUS BAMMER warned HU that iff China fails to effec rein in North Korea, the US MAY HAVE TO RESPOND BY RE-ALIGNING/DEPLOYNG NEW US MILFORS, MILSYS TO NE ASIA REGION IN ORDER TO DETER OR DEFEAT ANY POTENTIAL NORTH KOREAN ATTACK AGZ US SOIL. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-01-20 23:53 |
| #1 Just don't give 'em anything guys until they give you something. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2011-01-20 13:34 |