S. Korea begins implementing the Panmunjom Declaration; First high-level inter-Korean dialogue to be held by mid-May

청와대, 남북정상회담 '준비'에서 이제 '이행'으로... 고위급회담 5월 중순까지 The presidential committee on the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration held its inaugural meeting today.Among other the members discussed holding their first high-level inter-Korean talks by the middle of this month.Moon Connyoung has our top story. The first meeting of the presidential committee on the implementation of the historic April 27th Panmunjom Declaration. The new committee is based on an earlier interagency organization established to help prepare for the symbolic summit between the leaders of South and North Korea held last week at the border truce village of Panmunjom. "We will negotiate with North Korea and hold high-level inter-Korean dialogue by mid-May. As for issues that need further negotiations, the committee will take the outcome of the high-level talks and continue discussion at working-level talks." Headed by President Moon's Chief of Staff, Im Jong-seok, the committee will focus on carrying out the outcome of the leaders' meeting which calls for various measures aimed at denuclearization of North Korea and formally ending the 1950 to 1953 Korean War. The first task force to be launched on the committee, which will also see new members from the government, will be one to check the possibility of crossborder cooperation in forestry. "Cooperation in forestry is one of those areas the North most urgently requires helps with and also an area we have much expertise in so, we plan to tackle that area first." President Moon earlier in the week urged swift implementation of steps that can be taken right away, acknowledging those that may have to be delayed due to international sanctions placed on the North Korean regime. "As the president always says... this is only the beginning... with the North Korea, U.S. summit just around the corner. I think we may be able to stretch our legs and move on to the next phase only once we round off the North-U.S. summit without our guard down."Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House.