By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak proposed shuttle diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il Tuesday expressing the hope that the leaders of the two Koreas will meet frequently whenever possible.
He made the remark after getting a foreign policy briefing from Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hwan in Seoul.
The President asked, ``Why can't leaders of the two Koreas meet as frequently as possible at a time when I meet U.S., Japanese and Chinese leaders through shuttle diplomacy?'' He said during his tenure, he wants to hold inter-Korean summits frequently.
His remark is a delicate departure from the previous statement that he would consider meeting the North Korean leader only in Seoul. Lee also sought to tone down his emphasis on the improvement of human rights in North Korea. He said that his emphasis on North Korean human rights is in line with the universal standard of happiness, not part of a strategy on dealing with the communist country.
``We're ready for sincere dialogue with North Korea,'' he said in a 90-minute talk with the foreign policymaker. But Lee pointed out that the two Koreas should change their attitudes toward each other as a prerequisite to continuation of inter-Korean dialogue.
He also clarified his pragmatic policy directions Tuesday, stressing that the national interest should precede the alliance in Korea's relations with the United States.
He instructed officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to push for pragmatism in which Korea will put priority on the national interest when carrying out diplomacy with major countries.
``I am neither pro-American nor pro-Chinese. Korea can become an ally either with the United States or China as long as the two countries can maximize their national interests. In this age, there is no alliance unless each country's national interests are maximized,'' Lee said.
Though Lee stressed the necessity of maintaining an alliance with Washington, he said, ``The U.S. cannot be an exception. I think the U.S. would not maintain an alliance with Korea if the country considers the bilateral relations go against its interests.''
He added the wisest diplomacy is balancing the interests of Seoul and Washington, calling on the foreign ministry to take the initiative.
Washington policymakers have no doubt that Lee is a pro-American head of state who puts the bilateral alliance above inter-Korean relations. But many of them have said Lee's pro-American rhetoric should be matched by deeds, especially in cost-sharing in maintaining U.S. forces in Korea.
The President is to receive a red carpet welcome when he meets President Bush next month at Camp David.
Lee expressed his skepticism about the performance of Korean diplomats, saying, ``I'm not satisfied with what the foreign ministry has done over the past few years. Moreover, I am rather disappointed.''
The ministry failed to take the appropriate role in the six-party talks and to improve relations with the U.S., he said. ``Officials at the foreign ministry have been divided into various sides over policies.''
He pointed out that the ministry was not discreet in policies toward the U.S. and Japan. But he did not cite concrete examples on its failures.
``Korea's fate has been determined based on its relations with its neighbors (since the Goryeo and Joseon kingdoms). We (their successors) haven't conducted diplomacy in tune with the trends of the 21st century.''