ID :
21875
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 14:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21875
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Unification minister won't attend summit anniversary
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top official in charge of North Korea policy will not attend a civilian celebration marking the first anniversary of last October's inter-Korean summit, which the current administration has yet to fully endorse.
Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong was invited to the event set to be held on
Wednesday at a Seoul hotel but decided not to attend due to his busy schedule,
officials said.
"Vice Minister Hong Yang-ho will attend instead," ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun
told reporters Monday.
Minister Kim delivered a congratulatory speech at an event celebrating the 8th
anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit held on June 15, 2000, between then
President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Last October's summit
took place between former President Roh Moo-hyun and the North Korean leader.
South Koreas' increasingly amicable relations with the North following the two
summits quickly turned sour after pro-U.S. and conservative South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak took office in February, pledging tougher policies
against Pyongyang.
Lee has since softened his stance following deteriorating bilateral relations and
the North's moves to restart its nuclear activities, recently accepting
Pyongyang's consistent demand that the Lee government honor the two inter-Korean
summit declarations to help resume the suspended dialogue.
He appears skeptical, however, about fully carrying out various inter-Korean
cooperation programs agreed to during the second summit, which the ministry
estimates will cost 14.3 trillion won (US$11.9 billion).
Some experts say the unification minister's decision not to attend Wednesday's
event is a sign of the government's current attitude to the October summit.
The ministry spokesman, however, said the decision is irrelevant to Seoul's
position.
"It is not right to measure the government's position towards the summit
declarations based on whether Minister Kim attends or not," he said.
Former President Roh and many of his former officials involved in last year's
summit are scheduled to attend the event, organizers said.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top official in charge of North Korea policy will not attend a civilian celebration marking the first anniversary of last October's inter-Korean summit, which the current administration has yet to fully endorse.
Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong was invited to the event set to be held on
Wednesday at a Seoul hotel but decided not to attend due to his busy schedule,
officials said.
"Vice Minister Hong Yang-ho will attend instead," ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun
told reporters Monday.
Minister Kim delivered a congratulatory speech at an event celebrating the 8th
anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit held on June 15, 2000, between then
President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Last October's summit
took place between former President Roh Moo-hyun and the North Korean leader.
South Koreas' increasingly amicable relations with the North following the two
summits quickly turned sour after pro-U.S. and conservative South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak took office in February, pledging tougher policies
against Pyongyang.
Lee has since softened his stance following deteriorating bilateral relations and
the North's moves to restart its nuclear activities, recently accepting
Pyongyang's consistent demand that the Lee government honor the two inter-Korean
summit declarations to help resume the suspended dialogue.
He appears skeptical, however, about fully carrying out various inter-Korean
cooperation programs agreed to during the second summit, which the ministry
estimates will cost 14.3 trillion won (US$11.9 billion).
Some experts say the unification minister's decision not to attend Wednesday's
event is a sign of the government's current attitude to the October summit.
The ministry spokesman, however, said the decision is irrelevant to Seoul's
position.
"It is not right to measure the government's position towards the summit
declarations based on whether Minister Kim attends or not," he said.
Former President Roh and many of his former officials involved in last year's
summit are scheduled to attend the event, organizers said.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
