By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The North Korean army should form part of peacekeeping forces to help reconstruct war-ravaged Afghanistan ― if Pyongyang normalizes relations with the United States, an opposition lawmaker said Thursday.
In his speech at the New York-based nonprofit organization Korea Society, Rep. Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party (DP) suggested that the United States considers the idea as part of efforts to resolve pending issues.
Stressing that it is time for the Obama administration to strengthen cooperation with other countries, Song said, ``If the North Korean army joins the peacekeeping activity in Afghanistan, the United States could improve relations with other countries.
``The United States could regain a leading status in the globe with successful solutions to the Afghanistan issue, while North Korea could end isolation and create new relations with the United States,'' he added.
A three-term lawmaker, Song also advised Seoul to support the construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools and hospitals in a bid to help the Central Asian country to reinvigorate its economy.
North Korea would earn foreign currency as well by joining those construction plans and provincial reconstruction teams, he said.
The communist North is a member of the United Nations.
However, some analysts are skeptical of his idea since the country has received warnings and sanctions from the international organization several times.
North Korea conducted missile and nuclear bomb tests in 2006, which led to sanctions by the U.N. Security Council.
It has also refused to abide by U.N. resolutions on human rights.