 President Roh criticized opponents to the inter-Korean Summit at a cabinet meeting Tuesday. / AP-Yonhap |
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun Tuesday expressed his discontent with negative views by some critics about the second inter-Korean summit slated for Aug. 28-30 in Pyongyang.
Roh was quoted by his spokesman Cheon Ho-seon as saying at a Cabinet meeting, ``The important matter is the ``core,'' that is the summit, and that some are just repeating criticism of the summit.''
He was apparently referring to the principles of "three dos and three do-nots" for the summit which were put forward by the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) earlier in the day.
Rep. Lee Ju-young, chief policymaker of the GNP, urged President Roh Moo-hyun to seek ways of dismantling North Korean nuclear weapons completely, not to pursue reunification plans which lack public support and not to pledge further economic assistance to the North.
``President Roh said some critics are tackling the procedures and (undecided) agenda. This is the pressure urging not to do anything,'' Cheon told reporters.
The President was quoted that the conservative GNP seems to believe that the country exists for their winning of the Dec. 19 presidential election.
Roh's remarks came amid the heated debates whether the South and North will push for the inclusion of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) as one of the summit agenda items.
The GNP is calling for the Roh administration not to make any compromise on the NLL issue, insisting that it is linked to national sovereignty.
``The President said the core is what we will achieve in the summit,'' the spokesman said. ``Every negotiation is a compromise via give-and-takes.''
In addition, Roh said the government should do what it can do within the territory of capability. ``Progresses in inter-Korean relations are the process of history.''
Asked about the NLL issue will be included in the agenda, Cheon said the government is considering all items involving those issued by the North.
Roh said the formation of a unified economic zone will be the eventual goal of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
``The President said preparations for a joint economic zone, as well as the formation of a common economic bloc, on the Korean Peninsula will be the most important factors for inter-Korean peace,'' Cheon said.
The spokesman said the government is well aware of public concerns that the North Korean nuclear weapons issue and inter-Korean peace should not be neglected.
``But mutual interdependence in economy is the most critical factor to ensuring peace on the Peninsula,'' he said.
kys@koreatimes.co.kr
