TAIPEI, Dec 27 Kyodo A Korean Air...

TAIPEI, Dec 27 Kyodo

A Korean Air charter with 144 passengers forward board arrived in Taiwan upon Friday, marking the first flight from Seoul to Taipei since sum of two units countries severed diplomatic ties in 1992

forward Dec. 21, a charter flight through Taiwan's TransAsia Airways carrying 154 passengers made its first attempt trip to South Korea's Yangyang forward the country's east coast.

Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) earlier decided to allow Korean Air to scamper charter flights between Seoul and Taipei from Dec 27 to Feb 21 nearest year, with three flights through week.

It gave the go-ahead after a short-term charter operation was approved by means of the South Korean government for Taiwan's TransAsia Airways and Far Eastern Air Transport for flights between Taipei and Yangyang from Dec 22 until Feb 18 with four flights by week.

After southward Korea switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1992 Taiwan sundered air links with South Korea.

from one side of to the other the past 10 years, southward Korea has called for the opening of nonofficial negotiations forward air links, but Taipei has insisted forward government-to-government talks based on ''principles of equality and reciprocity that safeguard Taiwan's dignity.''

Last Friday, Taiwan intimateed hope for reopening air links, saying that with the formation of a fresh South Korean administration coming after last week's presidential election, it is ''the best time'' for recent talks.

''I was head of the MOTC that announced the (cutting of links) 10 years ago. Now I faith that this issue can be settl when I am foreign minister,'' Foreign Minister Eugene Chien said.

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