[USFK Forums] Editorial: Inter-Korean Sumit

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, October 20, 2005]

The Korea Herald, Thursday, October 20, 2005

[EDITORIAL] Inter-Korean summit

As if floating a balloon, President Roh Moo-hyuns top aides in the ruling Uri Party frequently talk about the possibility of a Roh summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Their remarks are fueling speculation and criticism from the opposition that the Roh government, struggling with bottom-rock approval ratings, is trying to play a North Korea card.

Uri Chairman Moon Hee-sang led off the recent series of discussions about an inter-Korean summit earlier this month. Visiting Japan, Moon said he would travel to Pyongyang to discuss the issue with Kim Jong-il.

Kim Doo-gwan, Rohs special assistant for political affairs, said five days later that either Kim Jong-il could visit Seoul or Roh could visit Pyongyang because the six-party talks on the Norths nuclear problem were successful. The aide also said he understands that the National Security Council is working on a possible summit and that Roh would have many thoughts about who he should send to the North as his special envoy.

Last week, Moon repeated his plan to visit North Korea to discuss a Roh-Kim summit. In an address to the National Assembly, Moon said the two leaders should hold the second inter-Korean summit as early as possible regardless of the site.

There is no reason to oppose a second inter-Korean summit because more than five years has elapsed since the historic meeting between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. We also do not believe the second summit should take place in the South only because the North Korean leader promised to return the South Korean presidents visit in 2000.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang twice to hold talks with Kim Jong-il, in 2002 and last year. Few can deny that the 2000 summit between the two Korean leaders, which helped the South Korean leader win the Nobel Peace Prize, greatly eased military tensions and kick-started diverse exchanges and cooperation programs, including the Mount Geumgang tour and temporary reunions of separated families.

A summit between Roh and the North Korean leader will surely add to peace and reconciliation on the peninsula. One important point should not be ignored, however. The timing and other elements of any high-level talks with the North should not be affected by domestic political considerations.

Opposition parties already suspect that the Uri leaders are bent on holding an inter-Korean summit to revive the partys popularity, which now stands around 20 percent, ahead of the local elections next May. An achievement or progress in inter-Korean relations would not make up for Rohs and Uris mismanagement of domestic politics and the economy. Voters now know better.

2005.10.20