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We kick things off with the latest efforts to reopen the Gaeseong Industrial Complex...
There's fresh hope in the air the two Koreas might make a breakthrough today during their
seventh round of talks in Gaeseong.
Both sides are still pretty far apart on a number of key issues though... so the negotiators
could have a long day ahead of them.
Ji Myung-kil reports. Twenty days have passed since the two Koreas failed to reach an agreement
at their sixth round of talks.
Nearly three weeks later, officials from Seoul and Pyongyang are back at the table with high
hopes a breakthrough could be on the cards this time around.
"I feel great responsibility attending today's talks. I will do my best at the meeting."
The two Koreas have been unable to bridge their differences over restarting the joint
industrial park.
The main sticking point is that South Korea wants solid assurances North Korea will not
unilaterally shutdown operations at the complex... while the North just wants the immediate resumption
of operations without making such a guarantee.
The North's proposal last week for a seventh round of talks came shortly after Seoul announced
plans to pay out on insurance claims for losses South Korean companies with operations at
Gaeseong have incurred.
South Korean officials are a little more hopeful this time around as North Korea has showed
signs to resolve the issue... but they are still approaching the negotiations cautiously.
North Korea watchers speculate the start of the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian military
exercise between South Korea and the U.S. next Monday could complicate negotiations
if Wednesday's talks hit a snag.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.