Group pushes to meet N. Koreans despite opposition from Seoul

The leader of a South Korean civilian group has said it would push ahead with a plan to meet its North Korean counterpart in China, despite the South Korean government’s disapproval.

The South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration plans to meet the North Side Committee on Feb. 9-10 in Shenyang, China to discuss events to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the declaration, which was adopted at the first inter-Korean summit in 2000.

However, the Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean issues opposed the plan, saying a bilateral meeting of the two committees could develop into a “political” issue.

“Despite the government’s disapproval, we internally decided to go ahead with our original plan,” said Lee Seung-hwan, co-chairperson of the South Side Committee.

“Although we admit that the South Side Committee has some political color, our contacts with the North could help inter-Korean relations. The government has groundless fears,” he said.

The South Side Committee first suggested an inter-Korean meeting to the North for Jan. 27, and the February meeting was offered in response.

A Unification Ministry official said earlier that Vice Unification Minister Kim Chun-sig met the South Side Committee head Kim Sang-geun and told him that issues involving the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration should be resolved between the two Korean authorities, not between civilians.

Meanwhile, the South Side Committee plans to hold a forum on Wednesday morning in Seoul, inviting political leaders, religious leaders and labor union heads to discuss restoring the inter-Korean relationship.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)