Inter-Korean Summit

[Anchor Lead]

Seoul has launched a government-wide task force in preparation for the upcoming inter-Korean summit in late April. The preparatory body is comprised of government officials capable of discussing pending diplomatic and security issues, such as easing military tension between the two Koreas.

[Pkg]

The preparation committee for the upcoming inter-Korean summit held its maiden meeting at the nation's top office this afternoon, to kick-start the process. The committee members selected specific agendas for the historic event scheduled to be held at Panmunjeom at the end of April and discussed how to get in touch with the North Korean side before the summit. The presidential office announced yesterday the makeup of the summit preparation committee and its action plans. Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok heads the committee with Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon as the general secretary. Committee members include the head of the National Security Office, chief presidential secretary for policy affairs, ministers of foreign affairs and national defense, as well as the chiefs of the National Intelligence Service and the Office for Government Policy Coordination. It's comprised of three subcommittees. The agenda subcommittee will deal with agenda development and strategy planning, the communication and publicity subcommittee with media relations, and the operation support subcommittee will be handling situation oversight and planning support. The new, one-stop system stands out compared to the last inter-Korean summit in 2007, when Cheong Wa Dae and ministries each formed separate organizing committees and preparation groups.

[Soundbite] Kim Eui-kyeom(Presidential Spokesperson) : "Tasks will be carried out in an organized and practical manner. Compared to the 2007 summit, the committee was simplified to ensure rapid response."

As for the absence of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Kim Dong-yeon from the committee, the presidential office said the committee was formed with the future Washington-Pyongyang summit and fundamental peace talks in mind and that economic cooperation and exchanges are secondary issues.