Roh Offers Olive Branch to North Korea
2003-06-17
President Roh Moo-hyun indicated on Monday (June 16) that the Seoul government will step up efforts to promote cooperation and exchanges with North Korea by inheriting the spirit of the June 15 inter-Korean summit meeting in 2000.
“It is better to remind ourselves of the historical and political meaning of the inter-Korean summit talks,” Roh said during a meeting of presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae.
Moon Hee-sang, chief secretary to Roh, said Roh's remark contained his willingness to press ahead with the peace and prosperity policy toward North Korea, and implement the agreements reached during the June 15 summit meeting.
Cheong Wa Dae's remark drew particular attention as it came amid growing international pressure on North Korea to relinquish its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Former President Kim Dae-jung, appearing on a TV program Sunday, cited the need to step up efforts to enhance inter-Korean relations despite mounting international pressure on the reclusive nation.
He also revealed that former U.S. President Bill Clinton invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to the United States near the end of his tenure, but the proposal was refused by the North Korean hermit leader.
In a similar context, a top Seoul diplomat rebuffed the allegation that the international community had launched a series of retaliatory steps against North Korea.
“It is not appropriate to regard the moves to check the reclusive nation's drug smuggling, Japan's intensified search on the North's 'Mangyeongbong' ferry and endeavor to resolve the issue related to Japanese families kidnapped by the North as part of retaliatory measures against the North,” Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck said during an interview with a KBS radio program.
Explaining the outcome of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG) meeting held in Hawaii June 12-13, Lee said Japan's such measures were in line with its decision to enforce laws more strictly.
“It is not part of retaliatory steps against North Korea,” Lee, who headed the South Korean delegation to the TCOG session, said.
He added that such issues tend to become the prime concern of the people regardless of the nuclear matter.
Regarding the possible suspension of the construction projects of two light water reactors in North Korea, Lee said, “Such a need has long been raised by the U.S. and was forecast from several months ago.”
Lee said the U.S. and Japan seemed to agree on the need to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue at the United Nations.
“But we called on the two sides to wait and see as efforts are underway to realize multilateral dialogue, a position the U.S. has agreed with,” he noted.
Lee noted the recent meeting was meant to urge North Korea to accept the multilateral format of dialogue rather than apply pressure on North Korea.
Source : www.korea.net
