[USFK Forums] Agreement at the 4th Inter-Korean Red Cross Talk

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Tuesday, October 18, 2005] The following data is derived from the Ministry of Unification. Mt. Geumgang referred in the text is based on the revised romanization in South Korea that should be read as Mt. Kumgang, according McCune-Reischare and a variation of McCune-Reischare which is official in North Korea.

IMPORTANT: To the surprise of Southern delegation, it was Northern delegation's initiative to call for adoption of Paragraph 3). [B]My view is that North Korea proposed this specific provision to be prepared for contingency under Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (17 July 1998) that became fully effective on and after July 1, 2002. Nothwithstading, nothing has happened so far.

第4次 南北赤十字會談合議書 (자료: 통일부 Home>자료실>납북합의자료)

Agreement at the 4th Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting

September 8, 2002

The following is an unofficial translation of an agreement reached at the 4th Inter-Korean Red Cross talks held in Mt. Geumgang over the weekend (Sept. 6-8, 2002):

Agreement at the 4th Inter-Korean Red Cross Talks

The 4th inter-Korean Red Cross Talks, led by the chiefs of the South and North Korean Red Cross societies, took place at Mt. Geumgang from September 6-8, 2002.

During the talks, the two sides held general discussions on various problems with a view toward resolving separated family issues on the basis of the aspirations of the Korean people and a humanitarian spirit, and agreed as follows:

1) Establishment of Reunion Centers

a) The two sides agreed to establish and operate a reunion center for separated families.

b) The two sides will, in the first place, build a reunion center for separated families in the Mt. Geumgang area and will discuss and finalize the issue of setting up another such venue in the Western region when the Seoul-Sinuiju Railway and highway are reconnected in the future.

c) The South and the North will jointly construct the center in the Mt. Geumgang area with the South providing materials and equipment and the North manpower.

d) The date for starting construction of the center in the Mt. Geumgang area will be determined as soon as the preliminary steps, such
as geological surveys and building designs are completed and the necessary materials are supplied in advance.

e) Reunions will be held on a regular basis once the construction of the Mt. Geumgang center is completed.

2) Whereabouts of Family Members and Mail Exchange

The two sides will continue to expand the project of confirming the status and whereabouts of separated family members and the exchange of mail between family members. Concrete steps, including the scope and timing of the project, will be discussed hereafter.

3) The Status of Korean War MIAs

The two sides will, as part of Red Cross humanitarian projects, consult each other to resolve the problem of ascertaining the status of those reported missing in the course of the Korean War.

4) The two sides will hold a working-level contact in Mt. Geumgang in mid-October to discuss an early implementation of such issues as establishment and operations of the reunion center agreed to during the current talks.

5) The 5th Round of Separated Family Reunion

a) The two sides will implement the 5th round reunion of separated families, a contingent of 100 members each, from September 13 to 18 in Mt. Geumgang.

b) Working-level procedures will follow the precedence set during the 4th round of separated family reunion.

6) Each side hereby signs the Agreement and it will come into force the day the signed documents are exchanged.

September 8, 2002

/signed/
Suh Young-hoon
President
Korean National Red Cross, and
Chief of the Southern Delegation to the Inter-Korean Red Cross Talks


/signed/
Jang Jae-eon
Chairman
Central Committee of the Red Cross Society
DPRK and
Chief of the Northern Delegationto the Inter-Korean Red Cross Talks