S. Korea forms task force to prepare joint events with N.K. to mark summit anniversary

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has formed a task force to arrange joint events with North Korea to celebrate their first summit meeting held in 2000, a unification ministry official said Thursday.

The task force is composed of officials from the ministry handling inter-Korean affairs and other relevant government agencies, along with members from civic groups, according to the official.

"As the date is approaching, we need to accelerate preparations," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Consultations are underway with relevant agencies and civic groups."

South and North Korea signed a landmark declaration on June 15, 2000, after concluding their first summit since the 1950-53 Korean War. The two Koreas agreed to make joint efforts toward reunification and boost cultural and economic exchanges.

A joint event was last held in 2008 at Mount Kumgang on North Korea's east coast.

In the April 27 inter-Korean summit, the third of its kind, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to push for joint events involving government, parliament and civic groups to celebrate days deemed to be meaningful to both countries.

The two Koreas planned to discuss the issue during high-level inter-Korean talks slated for Wednesday, but the meeting was canceled unilaterally by the North as it took issue with an ongoing joint air drill between South Korea and the United States.

The two Koreas remain divided and technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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