ID :
38643
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 12:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/38643
The shortlink copeid
(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Jan. 3)
No real change
The Lee Myung-bak administration - which has decided, for lack of a better
alternative, that waiting is also a policy where North Korea is concerned -
should make genuine efforts to bring about a thaw in the relations between the
South and the North.
Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong, in briefing Lee earlier this week, said that
Seoul will help develop North Korea's economy if Pyongyang will recommence
dialogue. This is a step back from the government's earlier position that
economic assistance would be tied to denuclearization and liberalization.
Yet, even this policy will not yield any results if Pyongyang refuses to talk.
"As long as North Korea shows no change in its attitude, the situation is
expected to remain the same as now," said Kim.
The Unification Ministry has plans to plant trees, rebuild railways and roads and
develop mines in North Korea if there is progress in inter-Korean relations.
Last year, the Lee administration did not make the customary annual shipment of
rice and fertilizer aid to the North, maintaining that it would only resume aid
shipments if the North requested the South to do so. With inter-Korean relations
at a virtual standstill, there was very little likelihood that Pyongyang would
ask for such assistance.
At the Unification Ministry briefing, Lee reiterated that he would not make any
rash decision vis-a-vis North Korea. "I will resolve North Korean issues from a
long-term perspective and will not use inter-Korean relations for political
purposes," said Lee.
It appears that there is essentially no real change in this administration's
North Korea policy. And without a softening in Seoul's stance, there is little
chance of a thaw.
Pyongyang insists that Seoul respect agreements signed between the two countries
in 2000 and 2007. So far, Seoul has been reluctant to uphold those agreements -
which were signed by the two previous liberal governments. Instead, Lee said that
the 1991 Basic Agreement would form the basis of relations between the two sides.
The latest offer of assistance from the Unification Ministry includes some of the
provisions of the 2007 agreement. In offering them, the government is indicating
that it is willing to implement some of the 2007 agreements, if North Korea
engages in dialogue.
However, North Korea wants a more straightforward statement on the 2000 and 2007
agreements. In its joint New Year editorial, North Korea once again called on
Seoul to respect the two agreements.
Unless Seoul and Pyongyang can come to an understanding on this issue of
upholding the two agreements, the current stalemate is likely to continue well
into 2009.
(END)
The Lee Myung-bak administration - which has decided, for lack of a better
alternative, that waiting is also a policy where North Korea is concerned -
should make genuine efforts to bring about a thaw in the relations between the
South and the North.
Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong, in briefing Lee earlier this week, said that
Seoul will help develop North Korea's economy if Pyongyang will recommence
dialogue. This is a step back from the government's earlier position that
economic assistance would be tied to denuclearization and liberalization.
Yet, even this policy will not yield any results if Pyongyang refuses to talk.
"As long as North Korea shows no change in its attitude, the situation is
expected to remain the same as now," said Kim.
The Unification Ministry has plans to plant trees, rebuild railways and roads and
develop mines in North Korea if there is progress in inter-Korean relations.
Last year, the Lee administration did not make the customary annual shipment of
rice and fertilizer aid to the North, maintaining that it would only resume aid
shipments if the North requested the South to do so. With inter-Korean relations
at a virtual standstill, there was very little likelihood that Pyongyang would
ask for such assistance.
At the Unification Ministry briefing, Lee reiterated that he would not make any
rash decision vis-a-vis North Korea. "I will resolve North Korean issues from a
long-term perspective and will not use inter-Korean relations for political
purposes," said Lee.
It appears that there is essentially no real change in this administration's
North Korea policy. And without a softening in Seoul's stance, there is little
chance of a thaw.
Pyongyang insists that Seoul respect agreements signed between the two countries
in 2000 and 2007. So far, Seoul has been reluctant to uphold those agreements -
which were signed by the two previous liberal governments. Instead, Lee said that
the 1991 Basic Agreement would form the basis of relations between the two sides.
The latest offer of assistance from the Unification Ministry includes some of the
provisions of the 2007 agreement. In offering them, the government is indicating
that it is willing to implement some of the 2007 agreements, if North Korea
engages in dialogue.
However, North Korea wants a more straightforward statement on the 2000 and 2007
agreements. In its joint New Year editorial, North Korea once again called on
Seoul to respect the two agreements.
Unless Seoul and Pyongyang can come to an understanding on this issue of
upholding the two agreements, the current stalemate is likely to continue well
into 2009.
(END)
