By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun may view one of the most famous North Korean performances ``Arirang,'' which touches on the Stalinist country's propaganda, during his visit to Pyongyang on Oct. 2-4.
``We will consider Pyongyang's request if the North asks us to watch the Arirang performance,'' Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told reporters on Tuesday after seeing off a South Korean delegation, which headed to Pyongyang to work out the details of the second inter-Korean summit.
He said that the North is very proud of the performance and the South will make a decision with due respect and consideration.
However, his remarks faced criticism from conservatives because the performance praises the authoritarian regime of North Korea. So far, among senior government officials of South Korea, only Chung Dong-young, former minister of unification, viewed the performance in 2005.
In response to the criticism, Lee said, ``North Korea has not yet made an official request that the South Korean summit delegation view the Arirang show.''
The North was to have staged Arirang on Aug. 1 but cancelled it due to floods. But it has resumed performances since last Monday, according to reports.
Asked where North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will greet Roh, Lee said the venue will not be revealed in advance for security reasons.
Meanwhile, the 35-member delegation, led by Vice Unification Minister Lee Kwan-se, will finalize the itinerary, accommodation, venues and tourist locations for the summit delegation during a four-day visit.
``We will thoroughly make a survey so that the summit will take place successfully,'' Lee said.
The delegation includes a driver who will drive a presidential car so that he can check the safety of roads to Pyongyang.
The delegation will travel on a reconnected road in the western part of the Korean Peninsula, the same route Roh will take for the summit.
A second preparatory delegation will to go Pyongyang on Sept. 27 and join the summit delegation.
The South Korean government had planned to send only one preparatory delegation before the summit but changed the plan because of Korea's thanksgiving holiday or Chuseok from Sept. 24-26.