DATE=12/12/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KOREA/TALKS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-270632

BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG

DATELINE=SEOUL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: South and North Korean ministers are meeting in Pyongyang in the fourth such talks this year on improving relations. Seoul officials say discussions will focus on the plight of separated families. Hyun-Sung Khang reports from Seoul.

TEXT: South Korean Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu is in Pyongyang for four days of talks with his North Korean counterpart. The two men will review the progress of inter-Korean relations and discuss future cooperation between the two former Cold War enemies.

Seoul officials hope to increase contacts between families separated by the division of the peninsula more than 50 years ago. The first priority will be designating a permanent meeting place for regular reunions. But North and South disagree about the location, with Seoul pressing for it to be at the border village of Panmunjom, which separates the two Koreas. Pyongyang wants the meeting place in the remote tourist resort of Kumgangsan in the North.

There have been two sets of reunions between families from the North and South since the historic summit between the two Korean leaders in June. They brought together several hundred families but thousands more aging Koreans also hope to be reunited with loved ones.

The family reunions have been the most significant symbol of Korean reconciliation to date, but they also have shown how far the two sides still have to go.

The second reunion two weeks ago hit a number of diplomatic bumps. North Korea briefly detained a South Korean journalist for making cynical comments about Kim Jong Il. And North Koreans reacted angrily at some South Korean comments describing North Korea as a poor country lacking freedom.

South Korean officials hope these fourth round of talks will set an upbeat tone for future Korean relations. But that may be difficult as North Koreans are upset over a recent South Korean defense paper labeling North Korea and Seoul's main enemy.

South Korean officials will also try to set a date for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to make a reciprocal visit Seoul. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has said he expects the visit in the first half of next year. (signed)

NEB/HK/SK/HB/JO