Reunification. Problems and progress.
In April 2000 north and south Korea at last agreeded to arrange a meeting in order to advance the reunification. The historical top level negotiations were held in June in Pyongyang. The Koreas agreed to advance their mutual economic an cultural co-operation. This may me a step towards reunification to a federation of two states and two governments in future. The new situation is not pleasant for USA, what ever they say. United Korea means doubling of anti-imperialist powers in that area.
All-Korean negotiation bodies have been established in order to handle practical common issues. A paper for media co-operation between north and south was undersigned in August 2000. A railway connecting Koreas is under construction in September 2000. The Korean Olympic teams appeared as one nation in Sydney. Even military co-operation has been up in the end of 2000. In 2001 - 2002 there have been working consultations between inter-Korean trade unions and peasants´ organizations. At the same time south Korean minister of culture and tourism and his party have visited north Korea.
The technic formula of reunification is a federation of two systems, two governments and two capitals. This formula is useful and realistic in economic and cultural sense of peaceful co-operation. Thus the Koreans may feel their country again united and strong.
The south Korean industry groups Huyndai and Samsung have expressed their interest to industrial projects in Democratic People´s Republic of Korea. The north Korean work motivation and high level of education combined with the south Korean practical technology would no doubt be a fruitful combination.
According to the power media south Koreans want American military to stay. Yet the large demonstrations against the US military precence in south Korea do not give much possibilities for interpretations. People at the Korean peninsula know that there is no reason to be afraid for the DPRK army. Just on the contary. Koreans in north and south have enough experiences of the massacres and violences by the US armed forces.
A massacre committed by the US army during the war has come to publicity. This massacre hardly promotes good relations. In August 2000 several south-Korean civic groups have demanded the American units to leave. In addition to political arguments there are also environmental reasons. The American military bases have spoiled rivers´ water which has before been drinkable. Additionally, there is a fear that there are nuclear weapons in south Korea.
The south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification (Pomchonghakryon) made public an appeal headlined "Let's foil the U.S. plot to frustrate the June 15 2000 Joint Declaration with anti-U.S. resistance under the uplifted banner of the June 15 joint declaration" to young people of different social standings on March 29 2001, according to a news report. The appeal castigated the Bush administration for running amuck to derail the declaration and ignite a war in Korea, openly advocating the policy of confrontation with the north.
The central committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) released a statement in June 2001 as regards the lapse of 51 years since the U.S. imperialists provoked the Korean War of aggression, Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation reported. The statement said the June 25 war unleashed by the U.S. imperialists was the most shameless and brigandish war of aggression and the most criminal and barbarous war in the world history of war.
Instead of drawing a due lesson from it and withdrawing its aggression forces from South Korea, the United States has committed shocking criminal atrocities against the Korean people, the statement recalled, and said:
The U.S. should properly understand the steadfast anti-U.S. will of the Korean people and immediately withdraw its troops from South Korea since there is no ground for their presence. With the U.S. imperialist aggression forces left intact in this land, is it impossible to expect sovereignty, the life and soul of our people, democracy and civil rights, the elementary human rights, and the national reunification, their cherished desire.
The people from all walks of life should intensify the anti-U.S. resistance across South Korea to drive out the U.S. aggression forces, a root cause of all evils.
The possible reunification is a victory also to the Juche-ideology. In Juche the struggle against imperialism has a very special signifigance. New Juche study groups have been established all around the world.
International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea is a worldwide organization advancing the peaceful reunification in Korea. Their last meeting was held in Paris in February 17th, 2001. CILRECO declared worldwide campaign against US threatenings and aggressions on north Korea in March 2001.
The world got a good evidence of the real aims of US policy on September 4th, 2000. The American authorities carried out a brigandish act by stopping the DPRK delegetion on their way to the new millennium UN summit in New York. The Americans fear the world to hear truth about Korean peninsula. Stopping the delegation to come to an UN summit is an unique act in the entire UN history.
In October 2000 foreign minister of USA visited Pyongyang. The character of the visit was more or less formal, but it might have had positive affects for maintaining peace. No joint declaration was published. There were no principal results, However, maybe Americans now realize better that a military attack is an impossible idea.
According to the Chinese People´s Daily the first reaction seems to be even more intensive military co-operation between People´s China and People´s Korea.
In the end of October 2000 USA arranged provocatory maneuvers near the Korean demarcation line. Also air space violations began again. Provocations continue in 2001 - 2003.
In connection of the top level EU delagtion´s visit in May 2001 north Korea promised to freeze her long range missile program for the present. Yet the condition is that USA shows something concrete in order to withdraw her troops from Korean peninsula.
In 2001/2003 the situation worsens further. USA threatens openly and makes plans for the NMD missile system, which is quite apparently targeted against north Korea. A storm of resistance has risen in Asia, especially also in south Korea.
Korean Central News Agency, April 2001: If the United States takes a hardline stand towards the DPRK, resorting to the "policy of strength", it will react to it with the toughest position, warns Minju Joson in a signed commentary. It says:
The U.S. imperialists announced that they would deploy 4 sophisticated helicopters "MH-47E" for special operation in South Korea. They are contemplating the delivery of various type war means including fighter-bomber "F-15K" to South Korea.
USA has arranged several large maneuvers in South Korea. After all kinds of threatenings the DPRK has clearly informed that she is ready to handle north Korea - US relations either with talks or with weapons.
The political Nobel peace prize was in 2000 granted to the south Korean president. At the same time south Korea accelerates militarization. Thus one can say that the peace prize money will be used for weapons.
In January 2001 the highest level talks were held in Beijing between DPR Korea and PR China. The co-operation between the countries strenghtens further.
China will add essentially oil export to DPRK. Many interests were noted to be common. East-Asian anti-imperialism grows stronger in this type of contacts.
The American propaganda is targeted to disturb developing of the DPRK relations with other states in the world.
US foreign politics intends to stop the reunification process at Korean peninsula. The possible new geopolitical arrangements would not serve USA´s interests in Asia.
The world has woken up to resist the new US aggression on north Korea. Among others the parliament of UK expressed in April 2001 their deep concern on the issue.
Meeting of the International Communist Seminar in Brussels in May 2-4, 2001 published a statement for the reunfication of Korea without foreign interference.
Inter-Korean meeting of peasants for reunification was held in July 2001 on the basis of the June 15 2000 joint declaration.
Like many other countries also Russia promised in August 2001 to support the reunification process and to resist any foreign interference.
In August 2001 civil and public organizations inaugurated a joint headquarters for the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration in Taejon, South Korea. The headquarters comprises the solidarity council of Taejon-South Chungchong Province civil and public organizations, the reunification solidarity for the implementation of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and peace on the Korean peninsula and 52 other organizations.
In August 2001 Korean NGOs had a meeting in Pyongyang. South Korean government hesitated when admitting South Koreans to travel to north. Yet it granted the permit. However, upon their return sixteen participants were immediately arrested.
The 5th minister level meeting was carried out in Seoul September 15th - 18th 2001. There vere promising practical results for further steps among other things in promoting connecting railways, motorways ant other transport facilities . The 6th inter-Korean ministerial talks took place in November 2001. The meaning was among other things to unite families. The meeting failed partially because of the strange declaration of alert in South Korea.
North Korea agreed in September 2001 to allow a feasibility study into laying a gas pipeline through its territory from Russia to the South.
In October 2001 the CILRECO called on the governments, political parties and organizations of all countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to join in the struggle to realize as early as possible the proposal for founding the DFRK, the only way of putting an end to the U.S. interference in Korea which has lasted for more than half a century and the Korean people's tragedy of national division.
The reunificaltion process suffered a defeat by the south Korean military provocation in the end of November 2001. Japanese uncredible violent attack on Korean community in Japan in December 2001 did not help the situation.
Militarization of Japan and South Korea by US support in the beginning of 2002 is a negative impact on all construtive aims in Korea and in northeast Asia
In February 2002 the south Korean government openly began to resist co-operation between NGO:s of both Koreas. The order has no doubt come from USA.
The US president visit to south Korea took place in February 2002. This political visit may have been a symptom of endangering of the idea of reunification because of unscrupulous and uncivilized behaviour by the US president. Even southKoreans were astonished.
In March 2002, a bit surprisingly, the DPRK and Korean Republic began to resume the negotiations for reunification.
In April 2002 south Korea´s presidents´s special envoy visited Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Il. Quite obviously also south Korea is concerned of the possibility of nuclear war, which would directly or undirectly destroy also Korean Republic. The result was crucial improvement of relations between the two Koreas at least at this very moment. Hence the US divide et impera -politics led to an absolutely opposite result compared with the US real aims.
The inter-Korean press co-operation agreement was confirmed once more in April 2002.
The reunion of 100 persons from each side, the fourth of its kind since the publication of the historic June 15 joint declaration, was made according to the joint press release agreed and published at the time when the special envoy of the south side visited Pyongyang early in April 2002 at its own request.
At the same time when some progressive steps were taken in spring 2002 a new provocation occurred in June. Four South Korean sailors were killed as North and South Korean warships exchanged gunfire near the western sea border. One South Korean sailor is missing and 18 others were injured in the 20-minute clash near Yeonpyeong island in the Yellow Sea.
The south Korean frigate sunk and the north Korean vessel suffered casualities. It is an absurd idea that the DPRK would ever spark that type of an aggression. All proposals for peace and reunificaltion in the divided Korea have come from north, not a single one from south.
Afterwards the DPRK has expressed her regrets for the sea clash. Of course, regretting that incident does not mean apologization, because there is nothing to be apologized
After that incident south Korean warships violated north Korean waters several times in July 2002.
The DPRK expressed its strong condemnation and asked for explanation from south. No answer.
The DPRK's Central Radio announced on July 9th, 2002 that the DPRK would not oppose the raising of the sunken south Korean high-speed patrol boat 357 in the coast of north Korea, but insisted that it be notified in advance of the ships and equipment to be used, and the date and position of the operation. The south Korean logics is amazing. South Koreans still say that the battle took place at their waters...
"Somebody" wanted to damage the reunification process.
In the beginning of July 2002 The US arranged military provocations also in Pamjungjong.
The US withdrew form the DPRK-US talks by the pretext of provocations arranged by the US itself.
The working contact of representatives of the north and the south was held in Mt. Kumgang between August 2 and 4, 2002 to make arrangements for the seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks.
DPRK foreign minister Paek Nam Sun attending the ministerial meeting of the 9th ASEAN Regional Forum on July 31 met U.S. State Secretary Powell in Brunei and discussed the issue of resuming the U.S.-DPRK dialogue at the proposal of the U.S. side.
However, in August 2002 the U.S. blaimed the DPRK for selling weapons to other "rogue states" and to "terrorists". This type of absurd accusations do not create any basis for developing relations between the two countries.
In these circumstances real constructive mutual talks between the DPRK and the U.S. are in practice impossible.
The seventh inter-Korean ministerial talks ended with a joint statement covering most of the pending issues between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK). The ten-point joint statement was released after the two delegations took long time to coordinate their stands on those pending issues between them, especially on whether to fix the date for the inter-military talks.
The statement was as a new sign of reviving the inter-Korean ties, which have been occasionally in trouble to some extent because of many interior and exterior reasons.
August 2002. In pledging to strengthen ties with both north and sSouth Korea, Russia boosted its diplomatic profile on the highly volatile peninsula and presumably considering whether to seek a larger mediation role there.
In a remarkable step to the inter-Korean sports exchanges, DPRK and South Korea marched together at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Busan Asian Games in September 2002 in the same uniform and under the same "One Korea Flag".
In the end of August 2002 DPRK and South Korea neared an agreement to start construction of the Gyeongui rail line linking Seoul to the North's Sinuiju next month in order to complete the project within this year.
The three-day inter-Korean economic cooperation talks in the end of August 2002 concluded with an eight-point joint statement.
North-south football match for reunification took place in Seoul in September 7th, 2002 midst the keen interest of all the Koreans.
Pyongyang, September 8th, 2002. An agreement was published at the fourth north-south Red Cross talks held in Mt. Kumgang in which they decided to set up and operate a house for the reunion of separated families and relatives in the area of Mt. Kumgang.
The second inter-Korean government-level talks plenary session took place at Mount Geumgang in Democratic People's Republic of Korea September 11th - 12th 2002.
A group of 455 South Koreans returned from Mount Geumgang in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on September 15th, 2002 to the port of Sokcho, Gangwon Province in South Korea, after reunions with their relatives in the DPRK.
A military wire connection has been established in September 2002 between Koreas in order to avoid misunderstandings in future.
An agreement between both Koreas´ militaries has been inked in September 2002 in order to promote road and railway reconnection operations.
In October, 2002 the eighth inter-Korean ministerial talks took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang. The main topic of discussions were rebuilding of railway connections. The north and the south shall hold the 9th inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul in mid-January 2003.
South Korea has provided oil to north Korea. In the end of 2002 the amount of oil will be increased.
In the end of 2002 The U.S. had used several types of tricks to hinder railway contruction works between north and south. The projects are often interrupted because of "military inspections".
Representatives from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arrived in Soul on December 11th, 2002 to attend working level talks with South Korea on setting up organizational and legal infrastructure for inter-Korea cooperation.
South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea cleared all land mines in the sections of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) for the reconnection of two sets of cross-border railways and roads on December 14th, 2002.
The US wanted to break the reunification process by pressing on in the presidential elections in south Korea in December 2002. The plan failed. Roh Moo-hyun's triumph marked steady continuance in all the peaceful reunification activities.
In the end of December 2002 South Korea has expressed her will to take care of the Korean nuclear problem without US involvement.
In spite of the nuclear problematics the two Koreas continue the reunification process. The ministerial level delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the ninth inter-Korean ministerial meeting arrived in South Korea in Jan 21, 2003. The four-day successful ninth Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting concluded in Seoul early on January 24th, 2003 with a four-point joint statement.
In January 2003 South Korea and the DPRK reached agreement on construction of family reunion center.
South Korean delegation to railway talks visited for Pyongyang in order to settle practical issues for reconnecting roads and railroads. The inter-Korean talks on construction of cross-border railways and roads ended on January 25h, 2003 in Pyongyang with a five-point practical agreement.
Military authorities of South Korea and Democratic People's Republic of Korea reached in Jnuary 27th, 2003 a four-point agreement on the personnel transit of the military demarcation line (MDL) which divides the Korean Peninsula. Such an agreement paves the way for the long-awaited linkage of cross-border railways and roads.
A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland issued a statement on Feb. 6, 2003 denouncing the United States for its moves to massively beef up its armed forces around the Korean Peninsula.
The road connecting Koreas was reopened on February 11th, 2003.
The 4th meeting of the north-south committee for the promotion of economic cooperation was held in Seoul from Feb. 11 to 14. 2003. At the meeting both sides proposed an action program of the committee and technical ways of carrying it out and discussed them, sharing the view that the Korean nation can successfully solve any problem if they pool their energy and wisdom no matter how the situation may change.
The north side's delegation participated in the March 1st, 2003 National Meeting for Peace and Reunification in Seoul.
Re-linking work of two sets of inter-Korean railways resumed in March 2003 in the demilitarized zone.
A delegation of trade unions of South Korea visisted Pyongyang in March 2003. The delegation was seen off at the airport by Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the central committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and other officials concerned.
The 10th ministerial talks between north and south were held in Pyongyang on April 27 - 29, 2003. Progress according to preliminary plans took place in spite of the US hostile stroming at background. The inter-Korean economic talks were prolonged on May 19 -22, 2003.
The South Korean military finished the reconstruction of inter-Korean railways and roads at the DMZ on May 17th, 2003, some nine months after the work began. Rest of the inter-Korean railways and road connection project should be finished in Septemner 2003.
In June 2003 Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to hold a ceremony to mark the relink of the inter-Korean railways.
The seventh round of inter-Korean separated family reunions was be held at Mount Geumgang in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from June 27 to July 2, 2003.
A working contact between the University Students' Sports Association of the north side and the South Side's Organizing Committee for the 22nd Universiad to be held in Taegu took place at Mt. Kumgang resort from July 4 to 6 2003 to discuss the issue of the north side's participation in the games.
Five delegates accompanied by 27 supporting personnel from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arrived in South Korea on July 9th, 2003 for a four-day inter-Korean ministerial meeting to be held in Seoul. Seoul and Pyongyang agreed in this high-level meeting that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea nuclear issue should be "peacefully solved through appropriate dialogue." A corresponding joint declaration was released. Discussions will be resumed.
On July 15th, 2003 a strange incident between the two Koreas took place. According to south Korean sources a few gunshots came from the north to south over the DMZ. There are only two possible explanations. Either the question is once again of a U.S. manipulated provocation or the "news" is not true at all.
A contact between the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and Hyundai Asan was made at the Mt. Kumgang resort in July 2003.
South Korea and the DPRK agreed on July 30th, 2003 to put into effect a set of bilateral four economic agreements early next month after exchanging the ratified agreements on Aug. 6.
A meeting of teachers in the north and the south of Korea for the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the development of national education took place at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on August 1, 2003.
A resolution of the 70 million Koreans for peace and reunification was adopted at the August 15 National Rally in Pyongyang on August 15th, 2003. South Korean delegation attended the Rally.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea and South Korea agreed in August 2003 to send a unified team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
The sixth meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation was held in Seoul from August 26 to 28, 2003.
In September 2003 South Korea and Democratic People'sRepublic of Korea military officials agreed to use the roads being built through the western and eastern areas of the demilitarized zone as new temporary roads.
September 2003. The 8th reunion of separated families and relatives started at Mt. Kumgang resort. Those from the north side had a collective reunion with those from the south side on Sept. 20 according to the agreement between the Red Cross organizations of the north and the south.
Youth and students of the north and the south met at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on September 25th, 2003.
On October 7th 2003 the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee hosted a reception in Pyongyang in honor of the south side's group that came here to participate in the opening ceremony of Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium at the Mansudae Art Theatre.
October 12, 2003. The 3rd north-south working contact for marine transport was held in Phaju of south Korea on Oct. 11 and 12. At the contact, both sides discussed the issues arising before the north and the south in effecting cooperation in the field of marine transport in the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
The 12th North-South Ministerial Talks that were opened in Pyongyang on Oct. 14 and closed on Oct. 17. The north and the south agreed to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation and hold the 7th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation early in November, 2003 in Pyongyang. They also agreed to hold the 13th inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul from Feb. 3 to 6, 2004.
All-Korean sports and cultural festival for national reunification and peace was held on Jeju Island, south Korea, in October 2003.
The 7th working contacts for reconnecting rail and road links between the north and south of Korea were held in Kaesong on Oct. 27 and 28.
The 7th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation was held in Pyongyang from November 5 to 8 according to the agreement reached at the 12th north-south ministerial talks. At the meeting both sides proposed issues arising in actively promoting the immediate economic cooperation for the balanced development of the national economy in the idea of "By our nation itself" and carried on discussions. The 8th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation is scheduled to take place in Seoul from March 4 to 7, 2004.
Military officials of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea held talks on November 14th, 2003 and reached an agreement over the planned establishment of guard posts in the Demilitarized Zone.
The 4th meeting of the North-South Arrangement-making Panel for Economic Cooperation took place in Pyongyang from December 17 to 20, 2003. Both sides discussed the technical issues in providing an institutional guarantee for promoting the economic cooperation between the north and the south in the basic spirit of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration before making public a joint press release.
The Second Meeting of the Working Panel for North-South Transaction on the Basis of Settlement of Accounts and the first working contact for north-south arrangements-making for economic cooperation were held in Kaesong from Jan.27 to 29, 2004.
In the early February 2004 the 13th North-South Ministerial Talks were held in Seoul.
The 8th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation was held in Seoul from March 2 to 5, 2004. Present there from the north side were members of its delegation led by Choe Yong Gon, vice-minister of Construction and Building-Materials Industries who is the north side's chairman of the committee, and suite members.
March 14th, 2004. A meeting of students of the north and the south was held at Mt. Kumgang resort.
April 14th, 2004. A contract for the lease of one million-phyong factory plottage at the first phase of the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone was signed in Kaesong. It was inked by Pak Chang Ryon, general director of the General Bureau for the Central Guidance to the Special Zone Development, from the north side and Kim Jin Ho, president of the Land Company, and Kim Yun Gyu, president of Hyundai Asan, from the south side.
The third meeting of the North-South Working Panel for the Settlement of Accounts was held in Phaju, south Korea, from April 20 to 22, 2004.
May 4th, 2004. A south side delegation with Jong Se Hyon, minister of Unification of south Korea, as chief delegate arrived Pyongyang to participate in the 14th north-south ministerial talks. It was greeted at the airport by delegates of the north side to the ministerial talks.
Kaesong, May 14th, 2004. Liaison officers of the north and the south had a contact in the area under the control of the north and the south on the west coast for the general-level military talks between the two sides. At the contact both sides discussed practical issues concerning the opening of the general-level military talks for discussing military issues arising in implementing the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. They held the first north-south general-level military talks at Mt. Kumgang resort on May 26th, 2004.
June 3rd, 2004. The south side's delegation headed by Kim Kwang Rim, vice-minister of Finance and Economy of south Korea participated in the 9th meeting of the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation.
June 10th - 12th 2004. The inter-Korean military working talks for the implementation of the agreement reached at the second round of the North-South General-level Military Talks were held in Kaesong.
The second meeting of the Panel for the Construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone and the second working contact of banks for the settlement of accounts between the north and the south were separately held in Kaesong on June 24th and 25th, 2004.
Military delegations of north and south held a meeting in Phaju, South Korea June 29th - 30th, 2004. Focus of the meeting was to prevent accidental conflicts at the West Sea and to stop propaganda at the DMZ.
July 12th, 2004. The 10th reunion of separated families and relatives started at Mt. Kumgang resort. Those from the north had a group reunion with their families and relatives from the south on Sunday under an agreement between the Red Cross organizations of the north and the south.
In the end of July 2004 South Korea arranged provocations aganist the agreement of reunification of families by using charterfligths for transporting people against their will from Vietnam to South Korea.
August 2004. Athletes of the north and the south of Korea jointly entered the stadium to attend an opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games held in Athens. As they marched hands in hands with two players holding a large white colour Korean peninsula flag in the van, many spectators rose up and warmly welcomed them with a long applause.
October 2004. A ceremony was held here on October 20 to inaugurate the Kaesong Industrial Zone Management Committee and start the construction of enterprises to operate in the zone. Present there from the north side were Ju Tong Chan, general director of the General Bureau for Central Guidance to the Development of the Special Zone, and officials concerned and from the south side Jo Myong Gyun, head of the Group for Supporting the Work in the Kaesong Industrial Zone of the south Korean Ministry of Unification, Kim Yun Gyu, president of Hyundai Asan, Pak Kon U, acting president of the Land Company, and those concerned with economy. Ju said that the inauguration of the committee to supervise management and operation of the Kaesong industrial zone and proclamation of it at home and abroad were precious fruition of the June 15 joint declaration. He underscored the need for the committee to positively contribute to bringing earlier the day of the reunification of the country.
November 27th, 2004. Relevant officials of the Red Cross organizations of the north and the south had a contact at Mt. Kumgang Resort from Nov. 25 to 27, Juche 93 (2004) at which they discussed matters related to the geological survey of the construction sites of the reunion centers for separated families and relatives. At the contact both sides had a technical discussion on the geological survey plan, an operation directive and contracts and decided to start surveying the construction sites of the reunion centers from December 1.
March 2005. The Japanese distortion of history united both Koreas to protest sharply the lies in Japanese history books.
May 2005. South Korea eased South Korean private persons and enterprises´ access to the DPRK.
May 2005. After a break of 10 months Korean reunification authorities met each otrher, this time in Kaesong SAR, DPRK.
June 2005. Political and commercial delegations from both Koreas participated celebrations arranged all over Korean peninsula to commmemorate the 5th anniversary of signing of the joint declaration.
June 2005. The 15th inter-Korean minister level talks were held in Seoul. South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reached 12-point joint statement on measures to enhance bilateral exchanges, announced chief delegates of the two delegations to the talks in a joint press conference here.
July 2005. The tenth Inter-Korean economic minister level co-operation meeting was held in Seoul.
July 2005. Military delegations of north and south met in north side. An agreement of stopping propaganda by both sides and preventing sea conflicts in advance was made.
September 2005. South Korean delegation visited the DPRK in order to discuss about the contemporary situation of the reunificaltion process.
September 2005. The 16th north-south ministerial were held in Pyongyang Attending the talks were the delegation of the north side led by Kwon Ho Ung, senior councilor of the DPRK Cabinet, and the delegation of the south side with Minister of Unification Jong Tong Yong as chief delegate.
November 2005. North - South economic cooperation office was opened in Kaesong industry zone in the DPRK:
December 2005. The 17th inter-Korean ministerial talks were held in South Korea.
April 2006. Joint Press Release on 18th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Published
Pyongyang, April 24 (KCNA) -- The 18th north-south ministerial talks were held here from April 21 to 24. At the talks both sides issued a joint press release after discussing practical issues arising in settling fundamental issues related to the political, military and economic relations between the north and the south and agreeing on them. At the talks both sides agreed on the following points after appreciating the successes made since the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and deciding to make positive efforts to put the inter-Korean ties on a higher stage in line with the idea of "By our nation itself":
1. The north and the south decided to take practical measures to recognize and respect each other's ideology and system in the basic spirit of the June 15 joint declaration with a view to promoting national reconciliation and confidence.
2. They shared the understanding of the necessity to take practical measures for defusing the military tension and ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to cooperate with each other to this end.
3. They decided to make sustained efforts for the denuclearization of the peninsula and actively cooperate with each other in the efforts to ensure that the September 19 joint statement is implemented as early as possible to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue in line with the common interests and security of the nation. 4. They decided to exert efforts for national unity and for the present to ensure that delegations of the authorities of the two sides will take an active part in the grand festival for national reunification to open in the area of the south side on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration with a view to making this national event meaningful.
5. They agreed to have economic cooperation substantially conducive to the prosperity common to the nation.
They decided to take practical measures to actively boost investment and cooperation in areas, types and scope of business for mutual benefit on the basis of firm understanding that the inter-Korean economic cooperation is cooperation between compatriots and an undertaking for prosperity common to the nation. Å@They agreed to hold the 12th meeting of the North-South Committee for Promotion of Economic Cooperation within May for the present to take up the issues of digging up sand at the mouth of the River Rimjin and developing resources common to the nation and discuss the trial operation of trains, the opening to traffic of railways and roads, the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone and cooperation in light industry and the development of underground resources, etc.
6. They agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to substantially settle the issue of the persons whose whereabouts were unknown during the war and in the subsequent period.
7. They decided to push forward cooperation in various fields including the prevention of natural disasters, health service and the preservation of cultural relics. 8. They decided to open the 19th north-south ministerial talks in Pusan from July 11 to 14, 2006.
May 2006. Inter-Korean military talks were held at the demilitarized zone. The main issue was security at the West Sea.
June 2006. The 12th Korean minister level cooperation talks were held in Jeju, sSouth Korea.
July 2006. Inter-Korean 19th minister-level meeting was held in Pusan, south Korea.
October 2006. Inter-Korean military delegations met in Panmunjon.
November 2006. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and South Korea established a national literature association.
November 2006. A delegation of South Korean Democratic Workers´ Party visited Pyongyang by invitation of North Korean Social Democratic Party.
November 2006. A North-South media seminar on the basis of June 15th 2006 joint declaration was held in the DPRK.
In February 15th 2007 Pyongyang and Seoul agreed to continue in Pyongyang bilateral talks on the basis of June15th 2000 joint declaration in the turn of February-March 2007. The South Korean minister level delegation arrived in Pyongyang on February 27th, 2007.
March 2007. A delegation of south Korean Northeast Asia peace council visited Pyongyang.
March 2007. Two hundred north and south Korean families were reunified.
April 2007. The 13th meeting of the all-Korean economic cooperation committee was held in Pyongyang.
May 2007. An inter-Korean highl level military meeting took place in Pamjunjon, north Korea.
May 2007. Korean families were reunited.
May 2007. The first Inter-Korean railway test-runs were compeleted from north to south and from south to north.
June 2007. Inter-Korean 21st minister level talks were held in Seoul.
June 2007. Large north-south festivities were arranged in Pyongyang on the 7th anniversary of the inter-Korean declaration of June 15th 2000.
July 2007. Inter-Korean military talks were held at Panmunjom both at north and south side.
October 2007. Meeting of DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and ROK president Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang was an important milestone on the way to promote peace in Korea and also for pushing forward the reunification process.
October 2007. The 16th family reunification occasion was arranged in Mt. Kumgang resort in the north side.
November 2007. A high-ranking delegation of the south Korean Hyundai Group visited Pyongyang.
November 2007. Primes ministers of DPRK and ROK met in Seoul. This was the first inter-Korean PM meeting since 1992. The Prime Minister meeting was a success. Both reunification and peace process advanced.
November 2007. Defence Ministers of both Koreas met in Pyongyang.
November 2007. A high-ranking meeting of north and south officials took place in Seoul.
December 2007. A delegation of Workres´ Party of Korea visited Seoul.
December 2007. Deputy Prime Ministers of both Koreas met in Seoul to promote joint economic programs.
December 2007. The first meeting of the joint inter-Korean economic commission was held in Seoul.
December 2007. The first cargo train for past sixty years crossed the border between the DPRK and the ROK.
December 2007. Inter-Korean military talks in order to guarantee sciruty ot the Weste Sea were continued.
October 2008. Military delegations of both Koreas met in Panmunjom.
November 2008. Because of South Korean President Lee Myung Bak´s continuous, agressive and hostile politics - in sharp contrast with the decalarations of June 15th 2000 and 4th October 2007 - Pjongjang decided to close the demarcation zone on December 1st, 2008. Unless the South does not change its politics, it will cause serious losses for the joint ventures in the North.
January 2009. Because of continuous hostile southern rhetoric Pyongyang said enough is enough to Soul and broke commercial and military ageements with ROK.
August 2009. The demarcation zone between the DPRK and ROK was opened for ground traffic as an important result of friendly talks with Kim Jong Il and the leader of South Korean Hyundai Group. Hence, common sense and good will won politics of the South Korean political hardliners.
August 2009. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) informed South Korea that it will lift cross-border traffic restrictions imposed since December in protest of Seoul's hard-line border restriction.
August 2009. A high level DPRK delegation met in Soeul with President of Republic of Korea and South Korean unification minister.
KOMINFORM