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July 30, 2002
Ministry of Unification
The government sent on July 30 a telephone message signed
by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun to Kim Ryong-sung, the chief North Korean
delegate to the upcoming ministerial talks. Unification Minister Jeong will
dispatch the South Korean delegation at the talks.
The telephone message delivered to the North stated as
follows:
The June 29 naval clash that occurred in the West Sea not
only was not in keeping with the spirit of the June 15 South-North Korean Joint
Communique but damaged the relationship of harmony and cooperation the two
Koreas have endeavored to build.
Nevertheless, the South Korean government pays attention
to the fact that the North expressed regrets over the skirmish, and that it
promised to make efforts to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Further,
our government takes this opportunity to urge your side to take all necessary
actions to prevent armed provocations in the future.
Once again, it is imperative for the future of our
relationship that both sides fully comply with the articles of the June 15
South-North Korean Joint Declaration, and that both sides continue dialogue and
cooperation for the ultimate goal of co-existence and co-prosperity.
In this context, the South Korean government will accept
your proposition that the two Koreas meet for the seventh round of
minister-level talks in Seoul and a working-level contact at Mt. Geumgang prior
to the talks.
We propose that the working-level meeting be held August
2 to 4. Our government will send a delegation to the meeting at Mt.
Geumgang. | 
