S.Korean think tank expects inter-Korean summit in August

A second summit meeting between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) might be held in August amid improving relations between the two countries, a state-run think tank has said.

According to the Korea Herald on Monday, the Korea Institute for National Unification said in a report Sunday that "As for the time to hold the summit, around the Aug. 15 Independence Day will be suitable as inter-Korean dialogue becomes more frequent through inter-Korean ministerial talks, and after both countries exchange special envoys around June 15."

South Korea and the DPRK feel the need for a driving force to develop their relationship in pursuit of "actual gains" after the Feb. 13 nuclear accord in Beijing, the report said.

"If the summit is not realized, prime minister-level talks could be expected, instead," the report said.

June 15 this year will mark the seventh anniversary since then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK's top leader Kim Jong- il agreed on inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation at the first-ever inter-Korean summit in 2000. August 15 is Korea's liberation day from the 36-year-long Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

Local media has focused on a possible summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong-il recently. However, Roh said last Tuesday that it is not proper time for an inter- Korean summit before the settlement of the nuclear issue.

"The foremost things are the settlement of the nuclear weapons problem and the normalization of inter-Korean relations. Without the settlement of these two issues, inter-Korean relations may not stand a chance of improving," the president told local media.

Following the adoption of a joint document during the latest six-party talks in February, South Korea and the DPRK resumed their ministerial talks in Pyongyang last week after a seven-month freeze following the DPRK's missile tests last July.

Source: Xinhua