Two Koreas issue joint statement after first general-level military talks in over decade
- 6 years ago
Let's start with the first general-level military talks between the two Koreas in over ten years.
The two sides discussed ways to ease cross-border tensions and released a joint statement... outlining how they plan to do it.
Park Ji-won has our top story.
After nearly twelve hours of talks on the North Korean side of Panmunjom,... the two Koreas released a statement late Thursday.
It said they had agreed to completely restore military communication lines between the two Koreas,... both on the eastern and western part of the Peninsula.
It also said the two sides fully shared ideas on issues, including creating a peace zone around the Northern Limit Line,... a de-facto maritime border in the West Sea,... and demilitarizing the Joint Security Area in the DMZ as a pilot program.
The two sides also agreed to implement an inter-Korean military agreement reached in 2004,.. in which they agreed to prevent accidental naval clashes in the West Sea, and to cease propaganda activities around border areas.
The two delegations were led respectively by South Korean Major General Kim Do-gyun and North Korean Lieutenant General Ahn Ik-san.
A lieutenant general in North Korea is equivalent to a major general in South Korea.
"The complete restoration of military communication lines and the reaffirmation of the 2004 inter-Korean military agreement are significant steps. (...) As our two leaders have opened the path to peace, South and North Korea should not repeat past practices if we want to achieve peace."
"We had our difference during the talks. However, both our militaries have a firm willingness to impleme
nt the Panmunjom Declaration. Drawing up military measures to end all hostile acts and designating a peace zone will be resolved soon."
The two sides also agreed to continue inter-Korean consultations on military-related issues that were brought up during Thursday's talks.
Also, in an unusually speedy manner,... North Korea's state media reported on the talks and the joint statement on Thursday evening... just a matter of hours after the discussions had ended.
"The two Koreas are slated to hold another general-level or working-level military talks in June or July, to coordinate both sides' positions, before holding ministerial level talks.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News."
The two sides discussed ways to ease cross-border tensions and released a joint statement... outlining how they plan to do it.
Park Ji-won has our top story.
After nearly twelve hours of talks on the North Korean side of Panmunjom,... the two Koreas released a statement late Thursday.
It said they had agreed to completely restore military communication lines between the two Koreas,... both on the eastern and western part of the Peninsula.
It also said the two sides fully shared ideas on issues, including creating a peace zone around the Northern Limit Line,... a de-facto maritime border in the West Sea,... and demilitarizing the Joint Security Area in the DMZ as a pilot program.
The two sides also agreed to implement an inter-Korean military agreement reached in 2004,.. in which they agreed to prevent accidental naval clashes in the West Sea, and to cease propaganda activities around border areas.
The two delegations were led respectively by South Korean Major General Kim Do-gyun and North Korean Lieutenant General Ahn Ik-san.
A lieutenant general in North Korea is equivalent to a major general in South Korea.
"The complete restoration of military communication lines and the reaffirmation of the 2004 inter-Korean military agreement are significant steps. (...) As our two leaders have opened the path to peace, South and North Korea should not repeat past practices if we want to achieve peace."
"We had our difference during the talks. However, both our militaries have a firm willingness to impleme
nt the Panmunjom Declaration. Drawing up military measures to end all hostile acts and designating a peace zone will be resolved soon."
The two sides also agreed to continue inter-Korean consultations on military-related issues that were brought up during Thursday's talks.
Also, in an unusually speedy manner,... North Korea's state media reported on the talks and the joint statement on Thursday evening... just a matter of hours after the discussions had ended.
"The two Koreas are slated to hold another general-level or working-level military talks in June or July, to coordinate both sides' positions, before holding ministerial level talks.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News."