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DPRK and Soth Korean representatives secretly meet in Beijing

Representatives of DPRK and the Republic of Korea held a secret meeting in Beijing to discuss ways towards easing tensions between the two states
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

TOKYO, February 16 (Itar-Tass) — Representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held a secret meeting in Beijing early in February to discuss ways towards easing tensions between the two states. Japanese news agencies report on Thursday that Seoul delegation was led by a former head of the ROK presidential administration. Pyongyang was represented by the top diplomats of the DPRK Embassy in the capital of China.

During the meeting, South Korea suggested that the North take a more flexible approach to the implementation of joint economic projects in the DPRK. This refers, in particular, to alleviating pressure on the joint production zone in the city of Kaesong and the tourist complex at Mount Kumgangsan.

Pyongyang repeatedly stated earlier that it would not deal with the administration of the incumbent president of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak, the administration, which in the DPRK is referred to as a "group of traitors". Seoul also adheres to a tough approach to Pyongyang. Specifically, it demands apologies from the North for the sinking of the South Korean naval ship and artillery bombardment of a South Korean border island in 2010.

Seoul denies economic assistance to Pyongyang until it abandons its nuclear program. However, signs of a thaw began to appear in relations between the two feuding Korean states of late.

At Pyongyang's request, representatives of the DPRK and the United States will also hold consultations in Beijing on February 23. The consultations will refer to prospects for a resumption of the six-country talks on the nuclear program of the DPRK with the participation of the two Korean states, China, Russia, the US, and Japan.

It is reported that, as a pre-condition for that, Washington demands that Pyongyang discontinues the uranium enrichment program and allows the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to have access to its nuclear facilities.