Korean Talks on Co-Hosting Games Collapse

Talks between North and South Korea on co-hosting the Olympics ended in a deadlock today with both sides declaring that there will be no more talks on the Games and blaming each other for the breakdown.

Although the North Koreans denied that they will try to disrupt the upcoming Games, officials in Seoul expressed new fears that the Communists might resort to terrorism to mar the Olympics since it now it appears that they have no hope of sharing host honors.

The two sides agreed after more than three hours to meet again Oct. 13, after the Olympics, to continue talks on easing tension. They blamed each other for failing to resolve the dispute over the Games, to be held in Seoul from Sept. 17 to Oct. 2.

President Roh Tae Woo said in Seoul that South Korea must continue “without fail” to try to make a breakthrough in relations with North Korea after the Olympics.

The two five-member delegations of lawmakers met for a fourth round at the Panmunjom truce site that straddles the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas. They continued to disagree on the format and agenda for full-scale talks on the Olympics and a nonaggression pact. Neither side showed any inclination to make major compromises.

Chief South Korean delegate Park Joon Kyu said that during the four rounds of talks, North Korea was concerned about how it could distract world attention from celebrations of the Olympic Games in Seoul.