ID :
204625
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 14:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/204625
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea is urged to respond to South's move to improve relations
SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's choice of Yu Woo-ik as the next unification minister to replace a hard-line point man on North Korea raised a cautious hope for improved ties with the communist country. Upon being tapped as the unification minister, Yu said he will explore ways to exert "flexibility" in dealing with the communist neighbor although he said he plans to maintain the government's stance toward North Korea in a consistent manner.
"I will ponder if there could be room to exercise flexibility, if necessary for substantial development of inter-Korean ties," he said.
Yu, who served as chief of staff for President Lee and later Seoul's ambassador to China, will replace Hyun In-taek, who championed a tough stance on North Korea for more than two years.
In view of the unique characteristics of inter-Korean relations, it will not be easy to exercise flexibility while maintaining the consistency in the government's stance on North Korea. As Yu pointed out, it will be most important to follow the changes of the times. At the same time, it will be essential to build mutual confidence with North Korea and maintain communication channels with the North.
The 61-year-old Yu is believed to have maintained a dialogue channel with the North since retiring as South Korea's ambassador to China in May.
The political situation around the Korean Peninsula and internal circumstances of the two Koreas seem to require both sides to change.
In July, North Korean diplomats held separate talks with South Korean and U.S. counterparts in Bali, Indonesia and New York, respectively, on how to resume the disarmament talks that also involve China, Japan and Russia.
More recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il held a series of summit talks with China and Russia and called for a quick resumption of the nuclear talks that his country quit in 2009.
There is a hopeful speculation that a trilateral working-level meeting will be held to discuss the construction of a natural gas pipeline linking Russia and the two Koreas.
The North has warned inter-Korean ties won't be repaired as long as Hyun stays in office, denouncing him as "despicable human scum" and a "traitor."
The replacement of Hyun will be an opportunity for both Koreas to improve relations. We hope North Korea sincerely responds to South Korea's move. It is desirable for the sides to start with the building of mutual confidence in nonpolitical areas like humanitarian aid and the reunion project that brings together families separated by the divide. On the basis of the confidence, the two sides can seek actual improvement of relations such as the resumption of economic cooperation.
"I will ponder if there could be room to exercise flexibility, if necessary for substantial development of inter-Korean ties," he said.
Yu, who served as chief of staff for President Lee and later Seoul's ambassador to China, will replace Hyun In-taek, who championed a tough stance on North Korea for more than two years.
In view of the unique characteristics of inter-Korean relations, it will not be easy to exercise flexibility while maintaining the consistency in the government's stance on North Korea. As Yu pointed out, it will be most important to follow the changes of the times. At the same time, it will be essential to build mutual confidence with North Korea and maintain communication channels with the North.
The 61-year-old Yu is believed to have maintained a dialogue channel with the North since retiring as South Korea's ambassador to China in May.
The political situation around the Korean Peninsula and internal circumstances of the two Koreas seem to require both sides to change.
In July, North Korean diplomats held separate talks with South Korean and U.S. counterparts in Bali, Indonesia and New York, respectively, on how to resume the disarmament talks that also involve China, Japan and Russia.
More recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il held a series of summit talks with China and Russia and called for a quick resumption of the nuclear talks that his country quit in 2009.
There is a hopeful speculation that a trilateral working-level meeting will be held to discuss the construction of a natural gas pipeline linking Russia and the two Koreas.
The North has warned inter-Korean ties won't be repaired as long as Hyun stays in office, denouncing him as "despicable human scum" and a "traitor."
The replacement of Hyun will be an opportunity for both Koreas to improve relations. We hope North Korea sincerely responds to South Korea's move. It is desirable for the sides to start with the building of mutual confidence in nonpolitical areas like humanitarian aid and the reunion project that brings together families separated by the divide. On the basis of the confidence, the two sides can seek actual improvement of relations such as the resumption of economic cooperation.
