TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Koreas Open 1st Summit In 7 Years

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: October 3, 2007

SEOUL, South Korea - Leaders of the two Koreas opened formal talks today at the first summit between the divided countries in seven years, after a chilly reception for the South Korean president from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim began meeting about 9:30 a.m. after the opening day of the summit Tuesday, when the two had no contact besides a 12-minute welcoming ceremony at which they barely exchanged words.

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. and Asian diplomats said North Korea will begin disabling key nuclear facilities within weeks and start disclosing details of its nuclear programs under a six-nation agreement to be announced this week. Success on the deal appears to have been aided by a 'side understanding' between Washington and Pyongyang that could accelerate the removal of North Korea from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The United States also appears willing to accept, initially, more limited action to disable three key nuclear facilities at Yongbyon than it originally sought, with the understanding that additional work to incapacitate the facilities would occur later. In exchange, North Korea is expected to disclose the extent of its weapons-grade plutonium, including how much was used in a nuclear test last year.

South Korea's President Roh traveled to the summit with a bold initiative: If North Korea agrees to work toward reducing a half-century of animosity with arms cuts, the South will help rebuild the North's moribund economy, creating a 'joint economic community' as a prelude to eventual reunification.

Roh's aides think the summit meeting, together with progress in six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament, is a sign that the North is cautiously embracing more cooperation and reform.

But some analysts warn that the meeting may also be another tactical move by Kim to obtain more economic concessions without giving up nuclear weapons.

Information from The Washington Post and The New York Times was used in this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT