North Korea proposes holding inter-Korean high-level talks at the Thongil House on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjom on Aug. 13. The photo shows Panmunjeom in April where the last inter-Korean summit took place. (Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps)

North Korea proposes holding inter-Korean high-level talks at the Thongil House on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjom on Aug. 13. The photo shows Panmunjeom in April where the last inter-Korean summit took place. (Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps)

By Lee Kyoung Mi and Kim Min-Jeung 

South and North Korea will hold a high-level meeting at the Thongil House located on the northern side of the Panmunjeom Truce Village on Aug. 13.

“The overture came from the North on Aug. 9 to review progress of the implementation of the Panmunjeom Declaration, as well as to discuss issues related to the upcoming inter-Korean summit,” said the Ministry of Unification in a press release on Aug. 9. “In response, South Korea agreed to this.” This is the fourth inter-Korean high-level talks to be held this year.

At the upcoming high-level talks, the two Koreas will have in-depth discussions on ways to bolster the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration and exchange views on things needed to successfully hold an inter-Korean summit. The South Korean delegation will be led by Minister of Unification Cho Myung-gyon.

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae made its views known through the NSC Standing Committee chaired by Chung Eui-yong, chief of the Presidential National Security Office on Aug. 9. Cheong Wa Dae said it welcomed North Korea’s decision to hold high-level talks concerning the implementation of the Panmunjeom Declaration, and announced that it would do its utmost to prepare for the upcoming inter-Korean summit.

km137426@korea.kr