Much of talks between Koreas kept hushed up

Inter-Korean talks continued for three consecutive days starting Saturday amid a military standoff between the two sides, but little was made known to the public about the negotiations throughout the process.

Press were banned from accompanying the South Korean delegation to the House of Peace on the South Korean side of the border, a rare prohibition that was placed most recently in February last year when another set of high-level talks was held between the two Koreas, that time on cross-border family reunions.

Top South Korean officials have remained silent over the issues of discussion, despite growing public curiosity, citing the fragility of the talks.

Officials instead explained that any outcome of the negotiations would be revealed only in briefs from Cheong Wa Dae, in a move to control the flow of information.

“If the information of the ongoing talks were revealed, it could have a negative impact on the talks, as the North is monitoring the South Korean media,” sources said.

Some observers said that the current talks should be viewed as equivalent to indirect talks between the leaders of the two Koreas, as President Park Geun-hye has reportedly been receiving updates overnight and directing the negotiations.

The unusual length of the talks also indicated that the representatives were negotiating on strict orders from the leaders, they suggested.

“About 700 inter-Korean talks have been held since the peninsula was divided, but this current talks are unprecedentedly long, continuing the talks all night for consecutive days. It could be viewed that nearly all of the major inter-Korean issues are being discussed,” sources said.

Overnight talks took place in 2013, when the two Koreas met to solve the Gaeseong Industrial Complex closure. That meeting lasted for less than 20 hours.

Meanwhile, the South Korean political parties vowed to pursue nonpartisan cooperation, urging for a resolution to quell the high-flying cross-border tensions.

Rep. Moon-jae in, the leader of the main opposition New politics Alliance for Democracy, however, pointed out that information about the talks should be at least partially released.

“It’s sad that the (South Korean) politicians and public are not aware of the exact situation of the talks. (Lawmakers) do not know anything about the talks. If we did know about how it was proceeding, both parties could jointly cope with it,” Moon said at the party meeting.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)