By Seo Soo-min
Staff Reporter

At the 13th inter-Korean ministerial talks on Friday, the two Koreas agreed to hold high-level military talks as soon as possible to alleviate tensions and build confidence between the two side’s military authorities.

The dialogue would deal first with preventing clashes over the West Sea, where a dispute over the maritime border has led to bloody confrontations over the last several years.

Negotiators from the two sides also released a six-point joint statement out of the inter-Korean ministers’ talks at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul after all-night discussions ended at 8:30 in the morning.

Shin Eon-sang, the South Korean spokesman for the talks, said the accord on military talks are hoped to root out the problems over the West Sea, where tensions rise every May and June during fishing season.

``We pointed out that existing working-level contacts between the two militaries aren’t enough,’’ he said in a briefing.

After the Pyongyang side expressed reservations, it was decided that the upcoming talks would take place between generals of both armies, falling short of the defense minister-level talks which have not been held since their first and only meeting in September 2000. Dates will be set up later via military hotline.

The two sides also agreed to try to resolve the nuclear dispute at the six-nation talks scheduled for Feb. 25.

``South and North Korea agreed to cooperate for fruitful results at the second six-way talks leading to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear problem,’’ the joint statement said.

They also agreed to speedily pursue inter-Korean economic development projects, starting with the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a major inter-Korean economic experiment in the North Korean city near the border with the South.

``South and North Korea will soon begin the full-fledged development of 1 million pyong of land under the first phase of the Kaesong Industrial Complex plan,’’ the statement said.

A small test site of 10,000 pyong will be developed by the first half of this year, it added. One pyong equals about 3.3 square meters.

The two Koreas also agreed to hold more family reunions in late March at the North’s Mt. Kumgang resort in late March. It will be the ninth such inter-Korean reunion meeting for separated families.

Dates for the 14th ministerial talks have been set at May 4-7 in Pyongyang.

``The North requested 200,000 tons of fertilizer for the spring planting season, which we said will consider positively after consultations at the National Assembly,’’ said Shin.

A consensus was also formed to march together into the Athens Summer Games this year, but details will be finalized through contacts between sports authorities of both sides, he added.

The North Korean delegation led by Kim Ryong-song, a senior cabinet councilor, left for Beijing Friday morning.

Highlights of Joint Statement in S-N Ministerial Talks

1. Cooperation for six-party talks

2. Agreement for military official talks

3. Speeding up of Kaesong complex project

4. Schedule for family reunions in March

5. Agreement for next ministerial talks in May

ssm@koreatimes.co.kr