Koreas to discuss Internet connection at liaison office in Kaesong

South Korea has proposed to North Korea installing Internet networks for its staff stationed at their joint liaison office in the North's border town of Kaesong, a Seoul official said Tuesday.

Dozens of officials from both sides are staying in the office, which opened on Sept. 14. The North has never allowed South Koreans stationed in its territory to use the Internet, except for temporary access for short-term visitors.

The two sides are likely to discuss the issue, which would mark the first online connection for South Koreans in the reclusive country, he added.
"We earlier proposed making it possible to use the Internet (at the office) to the North," Kim Chang-su, a deputy chief of the office, told reporters in Seoul. "We are pushing for Internet installation as soon as possible through consultations with the North."

Kim added that it will be based on North Korea's networks for the time being.

During the one month since the opening of the liaison office, the two Koreas have had more than 60 face-to-face meetings, he said.

They have included two meetings between the co-heads of the office -- the South's Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and his North Korean counterpart Jon Jong-su.

"This means that the two sides have held face-to-face contacts more than two times every day," Kim said. "The liaison office appears to be taking root well as a communication channel for 24 hours (a day), 365 days (a year)."