November 9, 2007 (LPAC)-- South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon confirmed today, that there are concrete plans to make the Six-Party Talks into a permanent organization to deal with regional security policy.

In his prepared remarks at a Wilson Center seminar on the topic "The Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance in the 21st Century," Minister Song said that South Korea had put forward the idea of a regional security dialogue.

When asked by LPAC if this involved making the six-party talks into a permanent forum for regional cooperation, Song replied, "A security dialogue format is accepted by all the six parties, but the level of enthusiasm is different with different parties.

"Right now," he continued, "we have working-level talks on the regional issues, as one of the working groups of the six-party process. We envision six-party ministerial talks on the subject as the process continues. That could be he kick-off for a meeting at a higher level. But it is in the pipeline."

When LPAC asked about the progress that had been made on extending the railroad from North to South Korea, some of the audience snickered, and the forum moderator commented, "Watch out what you wish for." Song, however, took the question quite seriously. "There will be inter Korean talks next week." Song said "The railroad connection for cargo transport is already beginning, and it will soon be regularized and will become more frequent."

Then he went on, without any urging, to say, "but there is a bigger idea in the works, which is to connect a main Inter-Korean line with the Trans-Siberian Railroad. And this would bring trade through the entire region."