CINA

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A new opinion poll conducted by Hankyoreh (12.01) showed that the conservative presidential frontrunner Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party is still "enjoying" a high approval rating of 40.2 percent, followed by independent (extreme conservative, or better said reactionary) Lee Hoi-chang at 19.2 percent and Chung Dong-young of the liberal United New Democratic Party at 14.6 percent.. The "progressive" candidat Kwon Young-ghil (Democratic Labor Party) could get 2.7 percent..

 
Last week (11.29) Asia Times (HK) published following article about the latest developments in the S. Korean election campaign:

Korea's choice: Dirty deals, snappy slogans
 

Caravans of limousines and sound trucks are careening through the streets of the capital and cities and towns throughout the country blaring out the virtues of a dozen candidates for president. Schoolgirls form colorful choruses on the fringes of rallies, shouting slogans and singing campaign songs, Buddhist monks bang on wooden drums, and television comedians cavort and joke on portable stages as the candidates themselves dance along to the rhythm of the moment.

It's an orgy of democracy in action that won't stop until December 19 when voters decide on the candidate to succeed President Roh Moo-hyun, who can't run for a second five-year term under the constitution promulgated in June 1987 after decades of near-dictatorial rule. The election is significant as a test of the popularity of a left-leaning leadership that has relentlessly pursued reconciliation with North Korea ever since Roh's predecessor, the firebrand Kim Dae-jung, won by an eyelash in December 1997 at the height of the economic crisis that forced South Korea to beg the International Monetary Fund for a US$58 billion bailout plan.

Against a backdrop of campaign debate over the economy and North Korea, however, the issue of corruption hangs over the campaign as a glowering reminder of the forces behind Korea's rise as an economic power and their influence over every corner of society.

On the same day that the candidates formally opened their campaigns, Roh had to deny having accepted any bribes while promising not to veto a bill calling for investigation of Samsung companies through which the group's former lawyer accuses top executives of channeling slush funds for bribes. Meanwhile, Lee Myung-bak, the front-running conservative who calls Roh a "leftist" and blames him for economic ills, waits anxiously as prosecutors investigate a jailed businessman who says that Lee was linked to investment funds implicated in bribery and embezzlement.

Accustomed though Koreans may be to allegations of bribery in high places, the coincidence of campaigning and investigations definitely adds a fission of excitement that might otherwise be missing both in the legal cases and on the campaign trail. The question is whether the investigations will have some unforeseen effect on an election in which the winner will be lucky to get 40% of the votes.

"All eyes are on the case of Kim Kyoung-joon, the investment fund manager who was extradited from the US to face fraud and embezzlement charges in Korea," writes conservative lawyer Kim Sang-chul. "The fear is that the investigation may determine the outcome of the election. The essential issue in this year's presidential election is whether the leftist political power will come to an end or continue in power."

The worst nightmare of conservatives is that Chung Dong-young, the candidate of the United New Democratic Party, with a popularity rating of less than 20%, will zoom up in the polls while conservative votes that would have gone to Lee Myung-bak, the candidate of the Grand National Party (GNP), drift over to Lee Hoi-chang, the losing GNP candidate in the 1997 and 2002 elections, now running as an independent.

Chung, a former TV anchorman who served as Roh's unification minister, is dedicating his campaign in part to his record in working for North-South Korean rapprochement and his pledge to follow through on wide-ranging agreements reached between Roh and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il at their summit in Pyongyang in October.

That message, however, has only limited appeal. Support for North-South rapprochement was not enough to stop the factional infighting that tore apart the Uri Party that lofted Roh to the presidency five years ago. Chung's United New Democratic Party is a hastily contrived organization, formed just a few months ago from quarreling elements of the Uri Party as well as the remnants of Kim Dae-jung's old Millennium Democratic Party. Its sole purpose was to be able to field a single candidate to oppose Lee Myung-bak (M B Lee), whose popularity in the polls appeared unbeatable.

A resurgence of conservatism, however, is working against M B Lee at a time when he most needs loyalist support to keep his candidacy from eroding during the investigation of his links to suspect investment funds.

The independent Lee Hoi-chang (H C Lee), besides counting on a record for integrity as a former supreme court justice, is playing on right-wing sentiment, campaigning as a "true conservative" with a "clean record". H C Lee, still well behind M B Lee in the polls, has no trouble blaming North Korea's nuclear program on "the ambiguous stance" of the current government, that he accuses of having coddled North Korea's nuclear ambitions by its willingness to compromise. H C Lee's conservative appeal has forced M B Lee and the GNP to pull back from what had appeared as a carefully moderate view on North Korea.

The GNP has had to mute its advocacy of a "middle way" in dealing with North Korea, preferring not to offend deeply conservative members to whom H C Lee still offers the best hope, despite his two previous losing runs at the presidency. Having offered conditional support for moves toward reconciliation, M B Lee now says he doesn't exactly support the outlook of his own party on North Korea and will demand North Korea give up its nuclear weapons program as a prerequisite for aid, but he prefers to talk mostly about economic reform.

Following both these conservatives as they campaign through this frantically capitalist capital, one might get the impression that South Korea is in the midst of a severe economic slump rather than growing economically at a rate of several percent a year. Both of them promise economic reforms that they say will elevate employment among young people angered over the difficulties of finding jobs commensurate with their education levels, and both say the government is at fault for socialist policies that discouraged the business groups or chaebol that form the backbone of the Korean economy.

M B Lee, on the basis of his incredible rise as a young man to the chairmanship of Hyundai Engineering and Construction in the 1970s, is more far more specific than H C Lee about what he will do. At the heart of his economic program lies what he sees as the need to loosen restraints that keep the chaebol from controlling banks or holding more than limited stakes in other companies in their groups.

The scandals surrounding both the Samsung group and his own financial dealings, however, may curb any appetite for a reversal of government policies that many critics believe give the chaebol overweening power to the detriment of small and medium enterprise, not to mention millions of people on corporate payrolls.

M B Lee's supporters shrug off charges of his alleged financial misdeeds. A common refrain is that "they won't make any difference" to voters. People who offer that type of comment are quick to add, however, that "no one knows what will happen".

The Samsung case has yet to touch any of the candidates directly but fosters anti-chaebol sentiment. "The business community is worried," says a government finance official. "This is kind of a pity for us, but we think we will get over this."

While conservatives are mired in explaining away the scandals, Chung has no trouble stressing the need to "move forward" and build on the record of reconciliation with North Korea. His campaign slogan, "Happy Family", suggests an aversion to the power of the chaebol that lord it over the economy.

At one rally, enthusiasts were seen holding placards saying "Free Hugs", as Chung hugged a succession of middle-aged women who rose to join him on stage. He might have been saying Koreans should embrace North Korea too while rejecting the angry talk of the conservatives who still reign supreme in Korean society.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IK29Dg01.html

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Well, there is a Chinese saying "I wish you interesting times" (or "May you life in interesting times"), i.e. - as far as I know - "I wish you nothing good in the future"..

So in the connection with the next presidential election in S.K. (12.19) there may come some "interesting" developments:

About two weeks ago in a Chosun Ilbo editorial it has been written that "Candidates in the broader ruling camp - Chung, Moon and Kwon - now feel in danger of being sidelined. That has added momentum to the progressive camp’s search for a single candidate of its own. In other words, they have started feeling out a possible alliance."

Even I almost - deep in the "back-yard" of my brain (no, no there is not a complete vacuum, not really!!^^) - expected that such a move could be very likeley, at first I thought: "Impossible!!"

But y'day - surprisingly (^^) - the S.K. "left"-liberal daily Hankyoreh published following report:

Prominent senior progressives urge liberals to unite

A group of prominent citizens have banded together to urge the liberal camp to unify and select one presidential candidate ahead of the December 19 election. In a press conference held on November 19, the group said that it was time for the nation’s liberals to make an impression by uniting around common values, instead of being involved in value disputes. The group includes a Seoul National University professor emeritus, Paik Nak-chung; Catholic priests Han Se-ung and Kim Byung-sang; and Rev. Park Hyeong-gyu.

“With only 30 days left before the presidential election, many people are trying to denounce our 10-year, uphill struggle for democratization and peace as ‘a lost decade,’ while those who have spearheaded democratic reforms are likely to face defeat if they are not able to keep themselves in order,” the group said at the press conference.

They urged the liberal United New Democratic Party, Democratic Party, Create Korea Party and Democratic Labor Party to unite, saying that each of the parties should look for ways for the liberal camp to win the presidential election based on the advantages each one can bring to the race.

Eminent people from all walks of life, including poet Ko Un, director of Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations Kwak Bae-hee, literary critic Koo Jung-seo, Sangji University professor Kim Seong-hun, president of Dukdung Women’s University Ji Eun-hee, Buddhist monk Cheonghwa, and novelist Hwang Suk-young, signed the statement.

They criticized what they see as “the current confrontation between people who are indifferent to whether or not the current crop of presidential candidates are law-abiding or honest, and who pursue economic development by favoring large companies and rich people, and those who hold the opposing view.”

“Political maneuvering which is not based on values should naturally be criticized, but in a situation in which there is a clear value gap within the conservative forces, the forces of democratic reform should unite as much as possible through effective political strategizing,” they said.

 
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/251302.html

Well, I wish you interesting times!! (Sorry, but - possibly - that's may be just the f.. reality!)

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First Round of Inter-Korean Premier Talks Closes (KCNA, 11.17)
  

The first round of the inter-Korean premier talks closed (last) Friday.

At the talks both sides had an exhaustive discussion on practical issues arising in invariably upholding and honoring the June 15 joint declaration and fully implementing the October 4 declaration and adopted an agreement on the talks and annexed agreements...

According to the agreement, the north and the south agreed to definitely turn the inter-Korean relations into those of mutual respect and trust in the spirit of "By our nation itself" and take steps to develop them for the purpose of reunification.

To this end, both sides agreed to take measures necessary for marking June 15 as a day common to the nation and hold celebrations of the 8th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration in Seoul next year with an attendance of authorities and people.

They also agreed to discuss such matters as readjusting their legal and institutional mechanisms and revitalize dialogues and contacts in different fields including their parliaments.

They agreed to set up "a West Sea special area for peace and cooperation" to meet the purpose of peace and common interests in the West Sea. As a necessary measure, they adopted an agreement on the formation and operation of "a committee for the promotion of the West Sea special area for peace and cooperation" to be co-chaired by officials at ministerial level. They agreed to hold the first meeting of the committee in Kaesong within December...

To this end, both sides agreed to cooperate with each other in various fields including roads and railways, zones for cooperation in shipbuilding and the Kaesong Industrial Zone and form the North-South Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation to be co-chaired by officials at vice-premier level for the smooth progress of those projects. A relevant agreement was adopted and it was agreed to have its first meeting in Seoul from Dec. 4 to 6.
   

The north and the south also agreed to inaugurate the North-South Committee for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Cooperation with a view to promoting exchange and cooperation in history, language, education, culture, arts and other social and cultural fields and positively push forward cooperation projects in the humanitarian field from the stand of promoting national reconciliation and unity.
   

The north and the south agreed to hold the inter-Korean premier talks once in six months and the next round of the talks within the first half of 2008 in Pyongyang.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200711/news11/17.htm#2

Source: S.K. media (K. Herald, 11.17)

The complete text (a first unofficial translation) of the agreement you can read here (Yonhap, 11.16).

Related:

☞ Korean leaders tout new initiatives (IHT, 11.16)

☞ Prime ministers’ talks.. (Hankyoreh, 11.17)

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Today's Asia Times (HK) published following - in my opinion -  interesting/informative article, written by A. Lenkov:

Working through Korean unification blues
 

For six decades, the myth of unification as Korea's supreme goal has been enshrined in the official mythology of both nations. The lip service to this myth is still paid by virtually all political forces in both Koreas, but the actual policy of both Pyongyang and Seoul nowadays is clearly based on a very different set of assumptions and hopes: both sides try to avoid situations which might lead to unification.

There are good reasons for this quiet change of policy. The gap between the Koreas is too great; depending on which calculations you believe the per capita gross domestic product in the South is between 15 and 40 times higher than that of the North. Perhaps, nowhere in the world one can find two neighboring countries whose income levels would be so vastly different - and in this case the two countries happen to speak the same language.

The North Korean rulers know perfectly well that in a unified country they would be unable to keep their privileges, and also are likely to be held responsible for decades of gross human-rights abuses and economic mismanagement. South Koreans are no more willing to unify with their impoverished brethren - unification of Germany where the initial situation was much better, became an ordeal, so the unification of Korea would clearly become a disaster.

Therefore, South Korean politicians are doing everything possible to support the dictatorship in Pyongyang, assuming that "stability" in the North is necessary for South Korean economic prosperity..

This policy is usually explained as a way to "create the environment for Chinese-style reforms". This indeed might be its long-term goal, but for all practical reasons the major immediate outcome of massive South Korean aid is a continuous survival of the Pyongyang dictatorship. The statement that a "German scenario is unacceptable" has become a mantra of Seoul politicians.

However, over the past decades, Kim Jong-il's regime has not shown the slightest inclination to reform itself. Obviously, the Pyongyang elite believes that the Chinese model, so enthusiastically extolled by the good-wishers from Seoul, is not acceptable for them. Perhaps they are correct in their fears. The existence of a rich and free South, always presented as another part of the same nation, makes the situation in Korea quite different from that of China or Vietnam.

Chinese-style reforms, if undertaken by Pyongyang, are bound to produce a certain openness of the country and certain relaxation of political control. As a result, the North Korean populace will soon learn about South Korean prosperity and will be less afraid of the regime's repressive machine. It's questionable to what extent the North Koreans would be willing to obey a government whose track record has been so bad after they see an attractive alternative of the South.

Hence, North Korean leaders have made a rational decision: to keep stability and their own privileges, in recent years they have used foreign aid to roll back the changes which happened in the mid-1990s. Instead of reforms, they now do everything possible to limit or ban private economic activity and reassert their control over society.(*)

Despite the government's resistance to reform, the North Korean system is gradually crumbling from below, and this slow-motion disintegration might turn into an uncontrollable collapse in any moment. A sudden death of even a serious illness of Kim Jong-il is almost certain to trigger a serious crisis. If this happens, all bets are off, but it seems that a collapse of the system, Romanian or East German style, is one of the most likely outcomes.

This is what people in the South fear most. Indeed, unification might indeed spell economic and social disaster for the rich South...

Please read the full (very long) article here!

*(Somehow) related:

☞ ..N.Korea Cracks Down Female Merchants (Chosun Ilbo, 11.9)

PS:

Lenkov wrote in his article: "A report.. states that if unification happened in 2015, it would cost US$858 million to raise North Korean per capita income to half of the South Korean level.."

But I think it must be US$858 billion!

K. Times wrote last month (10.28) following: "Expenses for the reunification of the two Koreas will range from $850 billion and $1.3 trillion if it comes between 2015 and 2040.."

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While the S.K. gov't (i.e. Roh Moo-hyun and his gang) last Sunday has been showing its ugliest - i.e. common (state terrorist) - side, at the same time Roh demonstrated that he's (likely) complete crazy - or better said clearly irresponsibly.

According to K. Times he "said Sunday that his decision to send Korean troops to Iraq was a historical error". ``As president it was an inevitable decision to send troops to Iraq,'' Roh said in an interview with K-TV. ``I realized that this was a time when I couldn't help but make a historical error even though I didn't want to.''

What? WTF he's talking about??

Just  20 days ago the S.K. gov't - decided to extend the presence of S.K. occupation forces in Iraq - the "Zaytun Division" - until the end of 2008.

And on the same day, according to Yonhap News Roh maintained that "Kim Jong-il the is most flexible man in North Korea". Wow, that's one of the "best" jokes I ever heared!! Harrharr, even CNN reported about this crazy contribution by Roh..

Well, I think there is no further comment necessary anymore..

☞ Sending Troops to Iraq Was Historical Error: President (K. Times, 11.11)

☞ Kim Jong Il 'most flexible man' (CNN/AP, 11.11)

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Since y'day (until next Friday) CNN Int'l has an..

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Just few hours ago Jerusalem Post(IL) reported following:

Israel's envoy to South Korea has expressed anger over a Nazi-themed bar in a Seoul suburb, a news report said Monday.

 
"I feel repulsed, outraged and disgusted," Ambassador Yigal Caspi was quoted as saying in the Korea Herald, which carried the diplomat's reaction in a front-page article about the drinking establishment.

The newspaper published neither the bar's name nor the municipality where it is located, saying it did not want to "give them any publicity."

The English-language paper said only that the bar is in a "northern city of Seoul." It published a photo of a red Nazi swastika it said adorns the establishment's entrance.

It also quoted the bar's unidentified owner as saying he chose the Nazi theme because "I wanted to be different."

Korea Herald's latest edition (10.9) - the f.. crazy story:
Nazi bar disturbs foreign community
   
Imagine this: The Nazi swastika hanging over a 20-something woman crying in disbelief over the horrible image that has appeared in her country.
No, this is not a scene from a new Hollywood movie and no, this is not an article revisiting the past; this is about a Nazi-themed bar/noraebang in a northern city of Seoul.

"I feel repulsed, outraged, and disgusted," said Israeli Ambassador Yigal Caspi. "Koreans, like Jews, suffered seriously during World War II and it is deplorable to see that some people are blatantly neglecting to understand the suffering of others."

Caspi's outrage is felt within the entire diplomatic community, both foreign and domestic.

 
From every part of the world, ambassadors have strongly condemned this bar in the harshest rhetoric, and, in a way, have unified the diplomatic corps to take strong action against this establishment. So as to not give them any publicity, the establishment and city in question will remain nameless in this article.

During an interview with The Korea Herald, the bar owner, who didn't want to be identified, said that he got the idea from watching World War II movies whereas the Nazis are characters in a movie.

The reason why he opened a bar with this theme was "I wanted to be different," the owner said.

"This is a part of European history and that's what we want to show," he added.

Yet, the question about celebrating an ideology that spewed hatred, inequality and ethnic cleansing in an establishment where people go to escape the hardships of life didn't come to mind for the owner.

"I never thought about it," he said.

Ukraine Ambassador Ukraine Yurii Mushka said: "This is not something you can play with. Fifty million people died. Nazi propaganda is condemned in a democratic and progressive world."

"All Nazi symbols have been prohibited by the Nuremberg trials all over the world. I can't believe that in a country like Korea it's allowed," Mushka added.

Slovakian Ambassador Pavel Hrmo, also stunned in disbelief, asked if this was legal.

According to Korean law, the bar owner is in full compliance with all rules and regulations.

The city in question confirmed that they do not have any bad-taste laws and that when one registers a business neither the Tax District Office and the Environmental Hygiene Division requires investigation into the specific nature of the registered business.

According to the Environmental Hygiene Division, the Nazi-theme bar in question is registered with City Hall and there have been no complaints filed.

But standing outside this downtown bar on a busy Saturday night one cannot miss the disgust in many people's faces upon seeing the sign.

Arian, a Filipino worker stood there in shock asking, "Does the owner know that Hitler considered Asians inferior?"

"I never thought about that," said the owner.

Finnish Ambassador Kim Luotonen said, "I can't understand this, maybe if he didn't read the history then it would be one thing."

Inside the bar there is a large famous poster of a Nazi soldier pointing a rifle. The picture has been cropped. The original shows a Jewish boy in tears on the other end of that rifle.

"There is no excuse for this, not only in Europe but anywhere in the world," said Bulgarian Ambassador Alexander Savov while expressing his outrage.

This is not the first time a Nazi-themed bar has reared its ugly head in the land of the morning calm.

In 2002, before the World Cup kicked off, Seoul City Hall and the Embassies of Israel and Germany visited the owner of a similar establishment to explain to him about the embarrassment a bar of this kind would bring to Korea. He changed his bar's theme.

There are also rumors of one in Busan.

The bar owner has refused to call back The Korea Herald for a follow-up interview to clarify some of his responses.

Response from the German and Israeli Embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quick. All are looking for ways to have the owner change the theme to something more tasteful.

"But first and most of all, I hope the Korean public see the imprudent act of the bar owner and react against it to force him to take down all the Nazi memorabilia," Caspi said.

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2007 N-S (Korean) Summit
Day #3/The Final

 Today the Summit (fortunately) ended - with a more or less meaningful (the coming weeks/months will show it.. or not)..

..Declaration for advancement of South-North Korean relations, peace and prosperity

In accordance with the agreement between President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong Il of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, President Roh visited Pyongyang from October 2-4, 2007.

During the visit, there were historic meetings and discussions.

At the meetings and talks, the two sides have reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and had frank discussions on various issues related to realizing the advancement of South-North relations, peace on the Korean Peninsula, common prosperity of the Korean people and unification of Korea.

Expressing confidence that they can forge a new era of national prosperity and unification on their own initiative if they combine their will and capabilities, the two sides declare as follows, in order to expand and advance South-North relations based on the June 15 Joint Declaration:

1. The South and the North shall uphold and endeavor actively to realize the June 15 Declaration.

The South and the North have agreed to resolve the issue of unification on their own initiative and according to the spirit of “by-the-Korean-people-themselves.”

The South and the North will work out ways to commemorate the June 15 anniversary of the announcement of the South-North Joint Declaration to reflect the common will to faithfully carry it out.

2. The South and the North have agreed to firmly transform inter-Korean relations into ties of mutual respect and trust, transcending the differences in ideology and systems.

The South and the North have agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other and agreed to resolve inter-Korean issues in the spirit of reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.

The South and the North have agreed to overhaul their respective legislative and institutional apparatuses in a bid to develop inter-Korean relations in a reunification-oriented direction.

The South and the North have agreed to proactively pursue dialogue and contacts in various areas, including the legislatures of the two Koreas, in order to resolve matters concerning the expansion and advancement of inter-Korean relations in a way that meets the aspirations of the entire Korean people.

3. The South and the North have agreed to closely work together to put an end to military hostilities, mitigate tensions and guarantee peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The South and the North have agreed not to antagonize each other, reduce military tension, and resolve issues in dispute through dialogue and negotiation.

The South and the North have agreed to oppose war on the Korean Peninsula and to adhere strictly to their obligation to nonaggression.

The South and the North have agreed to designate a joint fishing area in the West Sea to avoid accidental clashes. The South’s Minister of Defense and the North’s Minister of the People’s Armed Forces have also agreed to hold talks in Pyongyang this November to discuss military confidence-building measures, including military guarantees covering the plans and various cooperative projects for making this joint fishing area into a peace area.

4. The South and the North both recognize the need to end the current armistice regime and build a permanent peace regime. The South and the North have also agreed to work together to advance the matter of having the leaders of the three or four parties directly concerned to convene on the Peninsula and declare an end to the war.

With regard to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the South and the North have agreed to work together to implement smoothly the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement and the February 13, 2007 Agreement achieved at the Six-Party Talks.

5. The South and the North have agreed to facilitate, expand, and further develop inter-Korean economic cooperation projects on a continual basis for balanced economic development and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the principles of common interests, co-prosperity and mutual aid.

The South and the North reached an agreement on promoting economic cooperation, including investments, pushing forward with the building of infrastructure and the development of natural resources. Given the special nature of inter-Korean cooperative projects, the South and the North have agreed to grant preferential conditions and benefits to those projects.

The South and the North have agreed to create a “special peace and cooperation zone in the West Sea” encompassing Haeju and vicinity in a bid to proactively push ahead with the creation of a joint fishing zone and maritime peace zone, establishment of a special economic zone, utilization of Haeju harbor, passage of civilian vessels via direct routes in Haeju and the joint use of the Han River estuary.

The South and the North have agreed to complete the first-phase construction of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex at an early date and embark on the second-stage development project. The South and the North have agreed to open freight rail services between Munsan and Bongdong and promptly complete various institutional measures, including those related to passage, communication, and customs clearance procedures.

The South and the North have agreed to discuss repairs of the Gaeseong-Sinuiju railroad and the Gaeseong-Pyongyang expressway for their joint use.

The South and the North have agreed to establish cooperative complexes for shipbuilding in Anbyeon and Nampo, while continuing cooperative projects in various areas such as agriculture, health and medical services and environmental protection.

The South and the North have agreed to upgrade the status of the existing Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee to a Joint Committee for Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation to be headed by deputy prime minister-level officials.

6. The South and the North have agreed to boost exchanges and cooperation in the social areas covering history, language, education, science and technology, culture and arts, and sports to highlight the long history and excellent culture of the Korean people.

The South and the North have agreed to carry out tours to Mt. Baekdu and open nonstop flight services between Seoul and Mt. Baekdu for this purpose.

The South and the North have agreed to send a joint cheering squad from both sides to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The squad will use the Gyeongui Railway Line for the first-ever joint Olympic cheering.

7. The South and the North have agreed to actively promote humanitarian cooperation projects.

The South and the North have agreed to expand reunion of separated family members and their relatives and promote exchanges of video messages.

To this end, the South and the North have agreed to station resident representatives from each side at the reunion center at Mt. Geumgang when it is completed and regularize reunions of separated family members and their relatives.

The South and the North have agreed to actively cooperate in case of emergencies, including natural disasters, according to the principles of fraternal love, humanitarianism and mutual assistance.

8. The South and the North have agreed to increase cooperation to promote the interests of the Korean people and the rights and interests of overseas Koreans on the international stage.

The South and the North have agreed to hold inter-Korean prime ministers’ talks for the implementation of this Declaration and have agreed to hold the first round of meetings in November 2007 in Seoul.

The South and the North have agreed that their highest authorities will meet frequently for the advancement of relations between the two sides.

Oct. 4, 2007
Pyongyang

Roh Moo-hyun President The Republic of Korea

Kim Jong-il Chairman, National Defense Commission The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

*****

Related: 

☞ 'Dissed' by Kim Jong-il (A. Times/HK)

Well, more about the issue likely later - possibly after the weekend! (sorry!!)

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2007 N-S (Korean) Summit
Day #2

Well, the most interesting/important (^^) information on about the first two days of the summit [BTW in the North it's just called as "(S.Korean President) Roh Moo Hyun Visit Pyongyang"/로무현대통령 평양방문] is definetely following:
"When Kim Jong Il appeared at the plaza, the crowd broke into thunderous cheers of 'Hurrah!' rocking the earth and sky" (KCNA about Kim's y'day's first performance).

Today's meeting between eversmiling (still or again complete stoned)

Roh Moo-hyun and (still or again) angry Kim Jong-il started like that..

..but after Roh shared with Kim his dope - everything was

complete fine (The Guardian: "Kim comes out smiling")

The rest of the (of course) not so important (^^) "news" you can read here:

☞ A summary of the latest Summit News (Yonhap)

☞ Sunny south meets frosty north.. (Guardian/UK)

☞ NK Youths Expect Benefit from Summit (K. Times/Chosen Shinbo)

☞ Seoul doubles up the Dear Leader (A. Times/HK)

Korea Times about the latest "developments":

Leaders Share Consensus on Korean Peace

President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shared a broad consensus on establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula during their talks here Wednesday.

Roh mentioned this at a luncheon meeting with South Korean journalists at Okryugwan, a restaurant famous for its cold noodle, following his two hours of talks with the North Korean leader.

The President, however, indicated that Kim showed skepticism over the Communist country's market-opening and economic reform.

Roh and his 300-strong entourage will return home today on schedule although, during the second round of talks at the Baekhwawon State Guesthouse, Kim proposed that the president extend his stay in Pyongyang one day until the morning of Oct. 5, according to Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Information Yoon Seung-yong. The proposal was politely turned down after the presidential aides held a consultation.

``We will make a firm commitment with each other on reaching peace on the Korean Peninsula,'' Roh told the reporters. ``We shared the need to map out our measures for Korean peace for the future.'' But he was not specific on details.

Roh also acknowledged that there was a ``wall of distrust'' between the South and the North.

He said that he felt his counterpart rejected open reformation, noting that developing trust would take time and people should be patient.

One example of this was the Gaeseong Industrial Complex where North Korean workers are employed by South Koreans to manufacture goods, Roh said. He added that there exists a perception gap between the two Koreas.

``We evaluate the Gaeseong Industrial Complex as a successful project and a good example of reform and an open North Korea, but that is just our perception. We need to respect the North's view on this also,'' he noted.

Roh also said that traveling from Seoul to Pyongyang costs him a lot and he didn't want to return home without any achievement.

South Korean officials present at the summit were Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance and Economy Kwon O-kyu, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Man-bok and
Chief Presidential Secretary for Foreign and Security Policy Bae Jong-chun.

Kim Jong-il attended the discussion only with Kim Yang-gon, the director of the United Front Department of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.

Unlike their first encounter Tuesday, the leaders were smiling and appeared in good humor.
In response to Roh's thanks for Kim's unscheduled greeting in a welcoming ceremony at the April 25 House of Culture, Kim said, ``The President comes and I can't stay at home idle since I am not patient.''

The leaders will announce a joint declaration this morning to sum up the outcome of the summit, according to officials accompanying Roh.
For the peace system on the Korean Peninsula, the declaration will likely touch upon a peaceful resolution and measures to ease tension, as well as the denuclearization of North Korea, they said.

The joint declaration will confirm the maintenance of inter-Korean economic projects such as the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and will likely expand the complexes to other regions in the North.

Due to rain in Pyongyang, Roh delayed planting a ``tree of peace'' until today.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/116_11239.html