군사 긴장완화부터 24시간 소통, 경제•인도적 협력까지... 올해 남북협력 '급물살'<br /><br />During their three summits President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un discussed ways to work together.<br />Seoul placed emphasis on inter-Korean cooperation... as a means to catalyze the regime's denuclearization.<br />Oh Jung-hee help highlight the key areas of cross-border cooperation this year. <br />Lowering military tensions and communicating twenty-four-seven,... while cooperating in a range of fields from the economy to humanitarian issues.<br />That's how the inter-Korean relations -- which were cold and hostile until last year -- can be summed up for 2018.<br />South and North Korea held several talks throughout 2018 to implement the summit agreements on railway and road connections, forestry cooperation and health and medical care.<br />Though they've faced some restrictions due to international sanctions,... they've had joint inspections on railways and roads... and are looking to hold a ceremony next Wednesday to mark their joint project.<br />South Korea has delivered chemicals for pest control to the North and conducted some actual operations on the ground.<br />It's also looking to share data with the North on contagious diseases for cooperation in public health.<br /><br />Efforts are being made on the humanitarian front as well, especially for thousands of families separated by the Korean War.<br />The two Koreas held reunions for war-torn families for the first time in three years in August,... and are now looking to enable video reunions and restore meeting facilities.<br />All these matters -- from setting up talks to exchanging documents to devise work plans -- are dealt with at the joint liaison office.<br />It's where both South and North Korean officials work and stay... for direct, face-to-face communication.<br />Meanwhile, the area where the two Koreas have made the most significant progress... is on the military front.<br />Following through with the military agreement signed in September, Seoul and Pyeongyang have dismantled guard posts located within one kilometer of the Military Demarcation Line.<br />This is part of attempts to show their willingness to stop hostile acts.<br />They've also linked up a road connecting each other across the DMZ to together recover remains from the Korean War.<br />"In 2019, it's expected that inter-Korean interactions and exchanges will only deepen further, with regular inter-Korean talks.<br />Seoul's goals... are to create permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, build a sustainable relationship,... and ultimately form an economic community with the North.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News." <br />
