By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
A local expert in inter-Korean relations said Thursday a social contract is necessary to solve conflict regarding North Korea policies among South Koreans.
As the communist state severed ties with South Korea in retaliation to Seoul's tougher stance, discord over solutions have deepened among South Koreans.
``It is important to proceed with a North Korea policy based on public consensus,'' said Cho Han-bum, a director at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. ``To achieve public consensus, the government has to consider adopting a social contract on unification.''
The suggestion was made during a seminar hosted by the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, a civic group in which more than 200 political parties, religious groups and civic groups participate to help facilitate South-North unification.
Noting that redundant arguments have continued in the South for years, he said Seoul must have the public reach an agreement in a bid to proceed with a low cost, high efficiency North Korea policy.
For detailed practices, the expert suggested that conservative and progressive groups begin talks to help narrow their differences.
``If they ruled out extreme claims, they would find a common ground for solutions,'' he said.
Cho also said the contract should contain basic guidelines to prevent conflict which South Koreans face arguing on solutions to North Korea-related issues.
``It would also be a good idea if the President officially vowed to carry out North Korea policies based on public consensus,'' he added.
Pointing out that conflict among the southerners deepened after the inauguration of the Lee administration, he said Lee's North Korea policy, dubbed ``Vision 3000,'' and North Korea's recent border controls, are major disputes.
The secretive state has denounced the policy, which calls for helping to boost North Korea's per capita national income to $3,000 within a decade, in return for Pyongyang's decision to verifiably give up its nuclear ambitions.
In addition, the North restricted overland passage through the inter-Korean border from Dec. 1 and expelled over half of South Korean personnel from the tourism enclave and the inter-Korean industrial complex in Gaeseong in retaliation.
Cho also highlighted the need for humanitarian assistance, claiming human rights issues in North Korea should not be used as a political tactic to cause the collapse of the regime.
According to reports, North Korea would face a shortfall of more than 800,000 tons of grain until next October.
The World Food Program supported the figure, claiming that nearly 40 percent of North Korea's population will need food aid next year due to severe shortages of fuel and fertilizer.