By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter criticized international sanctions against Pyongyang, Tuesday, saying ordinary North Koreans take the brunt of the punishment.
``Sanctions or embargos against a nation because of a policy of our leaders were unacceptable,'' he said in a lecture at Korea University in Seoul, from which he received an honorary doctorate. ``In almost every case these sanctions were counterproductive.''
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate did not deny that some of the punitive measures were merited but pointed out that common citizens, farmers and workers in the North suffer the most because of them.
``North Koreans have been suffering now for 50 years, not only because of the policy of their government in Pyongyang but because the international community increases their suffering by forbidding normal trade, commerce and the supply of the basic necessities of life,'' he said.
The former U.S leader said it would be unlikely for the North Koreans to back down unless the United States meets the basic demands received from North Korean leader Kim Il-sung in 1994: Direct talks with Washington with promised actions being confirmed, step by step.
``I don't believe this (the ongoing punishment) weakens the authority of their government and leaders, I think it probably strengthens the authoritarian regime in Pyongyang,'' he said.
The 85-year-old former President said the North continues to behave in a provocative way because it fears preemptive military attacks.
He also urged Washington and Seoul to have direct talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear standoff.
``No one can predict the final answer from Pyongyang, but there is no harm in making a major effort, including unrestrained direct talks. The initiative must be from America and South Korea,'' he said.
The North agreed in principle to denuclearize under two six-party agreements made in 2005 and 2007, but then carried out two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.