Moving inter-Korean summit one step closer?

Posted on : 2009-10-23 12:12 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
While Cheong Wa Dae goes on record denying a meeting with North Korean officials in Singapore took place, S. Korean officials confirm details about discussing Kim Jong-il’s visit to South Korea
 the head of the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers’ Party
the head of the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers’ Party

It was reported by KBS on Thursday that high-ranking officials from South Korea and North Korea met in Singapore to discuss the possibility of an inter-Korean summit.

KBS news confirmed that Kim Yang-geon, the head of the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers’ Party and Won Dong-yeon, the director of Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC), met with high ranking officials from South Korea at Singapore just following their visit to Beijing, Oct. 15.

According to the news, he South Korean high-ranking official said a change in North Korea’s nuclear policy towards complete abolition as a precondition for an inter-Korean summit was discussed during the meeting. He also said that economic aid to North Korea should not serve as a precondition.

In response to the news report, a Cheong Wa Dae (presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) official said, “No one in our government met with Kim Yang-geun.” However, another Cheong Wa Dae official neither confirmed nor denied the report by saying, “We have nothing to confirm.”

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