 Former President Kim Dae-jung speaks at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., Tuesday. / Yonhap |
I took office as the president of South Korea in February 1998. After my inauguration, I proposed the Sunshine Policy, which was based on the three principles of unification, namely, peaceful coexistence, peaceful exchange, and peaceful unification, and the three-stage unification of South-North confederation, South-North federation, and lastly, complete unification as the Korean government's policy toward North Korea.
The policy received full support of the Clinton administration. It also gained support from across the world including China, Russia, Japan, and EU.
In June 2000, I visited Pyongyang and made an agreement between the two Koreas for peaceful coexistence, peaceful exchange, and peaceful unification.
Following my visit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il considered my recommendations and sent Jo Myong-nok, the second most powerful man in North Korea, to the U.S. to meet President Clinton.
In return, Secretary of State Albright traveled to the North for further consultations. As the result of such consultations, both sides were on the verge of an agreement regarding North Korea's missile and nuclear issue, as well as the normalization of their relations.
However, the U.S. policy completely changed as soon as the Bush administration was launched in 2001. President Bush declared that ``there cannot be any reward to bad behaviors,'' refusing to have direct dialogue with North Korea, and listed North Korea as an ``axis of evil.''
The U.S.-DPRK relations drastically deteriorated once again. As the president of South Korea, at the time, I repeatedly insisted that President Bush pursue direct dialogue and give and take negotiations with North Korea. However, without much success to this end, I left office in February 2003.
Nevertheless, I have continued to make the same argument even after my retirement. With the abrupt nuclear testing of North Korea in October last year, resistance not only from South Korea but from across the world arose like a storm. However, I stood firm in my view and made the following statement via numerous press interviews at home and abroad.
I stated that, ``The reason North Korea wants to go nuclear is because they want direct dialogue with the U.S. through which they want to discuss security assurance, lifting of economic sanctions, and normalization of relations with the U.S. Therefore, the U.S. should change its attitude and pursue dialogue and give and take negotiations with the North. Then North Korean nuclear issue will be resolved.''
Change of US Policy on N. Korea
Recently, President Bush changed the U.S. policy toward North Korea and under the Feb. 13 agreement, which was reached during the six-party process, the U.S. agreed with North Korea on the give and take negotiations based on the action for action approach.
The first phase of the February accord has been successfully implemented including the shut-down of nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and the invitation of IAEA inspectors to the North.
The related parties are now reaching another agreement on the disablement of all nuclear facilities and the declaration of all nuclear programs. Amid these developments, President Bush expressed his determination and confidence in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue within his tenure, stating that he has made his choice.
I sincerely appreciate and welcome his decision to discard the past ineffective policy in a decisive manner and to accept an appropriate solution to the North Korean nuclear issue.
I am convinced that the six-party talks will succeed. When I met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, he earnestly desired to normalize relations with the United States.
He even said that ``U.S. forces should remain on the Korean Peninsula even after unification.'' He was well aware that the only way for North Korea to receive security assurance from the U.S. and to revive its shattered economy is to normalize its ties with the U.S.
Now Pyongyang does not have any reason to insist on the possession of nuclear arms since the U.S. has responded to the North's requests for direct dialogue and started to move toward assuring security, lifting economic sanctions, and normalizing relations.
South Korea is completely opposed to the possession of nuclear arms by the North. Unless Pyongyang gives up its nuclear capability, there cannot be a fundamental improvement in inter-Korean relations.
Concerning the North's nuclear issue, we consistently stated that the U.S. returns to the principle of direct dialogue and give and take negotiations with North Korea. With the principle being implemented now, South Korea will strongly support the stance of the United States.
Meanwhile, the U.S. no longer needs to be hesitant about resolving the situation since North Korea announced it would abandon its nuclear ambitions completely and would join in the efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
President Bush is very determined and resolute. I hope and I believe that all negotiations concerning the North Korean nuclear issue can be successfully concluded before President Bush leaves his office.
Moreover, the formal end to the Korean War will be declared, and diplomatic ties between the U.S. and North Korea will be established. In addition, a peace treaty will be signed among related parties. Now we can see a glimmer of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will visit the North from Oct. 2 and have a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
I believe both leaders will agree in the upcoming inter-Korean summit to strongly support the success of the six-party talks. I expect that they will also discuss expanding economic cooperation between the two Koreas.
In addition, the establishment of peace and promoting tension-reducing measures on the Korean Peninsula are expected to be on the agenda as well.
Currently, North Korea is importing 80 percent of its daily necessities from China. China has been showing interests in various economic projects such as the exploration of North Korea's underground mineral resources.
Joint Advancement Into N. Korean Economy
I believe, against this backdrop, both South Korea and the United States should advance into the North Korean economy to keep the balance against China. It is necessary for us to begin thinking about how to enter the North Korean economy together with U.S. businessmen and our major allies.
North Korea has rich underground minerals such as tungsten and gold, and it also has ample tourism resources. Thus, the outcome of the upcoming summit will be of great mutual interest to both Korea and the U.S.
I understand that some people in the U.S. believe that ``anti-American sentiment is rising in South Korea,'' that ``South Korea is more inclined toward China,'' and that ``Korea does not remember the graces they benefited from the U.S. during the Korean War.''
However, all these views are simply not true. The absolute majority of the Korean people clearly understand that the U.S. is a crucial ally.
The Korean people are well aware of the geopolitical significance of maintaining U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula, since Korea is surrounded by Japan, China, and Russia.
Toward the end of the Choson dynasty in late 19th century, we could have maintained our independence if we had had the help of the U.S., rather than to be sacrificed by the power game of neighboring superpowers.
With the presence of East Asia including China and Japan dramatically rising, I believe the U.S. should maintain its strong alliance with South Korea, which is strategically located between China and Japan, and it should improve its relations with North Korea.
Korea participated in the Vietnam War where 5,000 Korean soldiers lost their lives and 10,000 were injured. Currently, Korea is dispatching 2,000 soldiers to Iraq, which is the third largest army next to that of the U.S. and U.K.
Korea is also actively cooperating with the U.S. concerning the realignment of U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula, namely, relocation of the forward-deployed U.S. troops to bases in the rear, which is devised for the strategic flexibility of U.S. forces.
In addition, if the free trade agreement between the U.S. and Korea is ratified smoothly and put in place, it will greatly contribute to the mutual interests of both nations.
In regards to the voice of dissatisfaction towards the U.S., I believe that the Korean people are expressing their dissatisfaction towards the U.S. policy and not to the U.S. itself.
The Korean people want their opinions to be taken into full account when the U.S. implements its policies toward North Korea and as such some critical views have been expressed toward Bush administration's former stance on the North Korean issue.
The six-party process is headed in the direction of success. The inter-Korean relations and the ties between the U.S. and North Korea are expected to be significantly improved.
Let us seize this opportunity and make sure we establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia. Now we can see a glimmer of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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