PM opposes sending special envoy to NK

By Jun Ji-hye

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, left, answers questions from Rep. Kim Sung-chan of the ruling Saenuri Party at the National Assembly interpellation session, Thursday. He opposes sending a special envoy to North Korea. / Yonhap

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said on Thursday that the government has no plan to send a special envoy to North Korea.

“It takes two to tango. We already experienced that unilateral aid and favor were not an effective way to resolve inter-Korean relations,” Chung said during an interpellation session at the National Assembly.

His comments came after a number of politicians, including Moon Hee-sang, chairman of the Democratic United Party, made demands that Seoul dispatch an envoy to Pyongyang as part of efforts to ease inter-Korean military tension.

Moon previously urged President Park Geun-hye to send a special envoy to the North.

Regarding Seoul’s offer to hold working-level talks with the North to normalize the Gaeseong Industrial Complex where operations have been suspended for more than two weeks, Chung said: “I expect Pyongyang to accept that offer.”

However, he refused to give details of the “grave measure” the government warned of taking, if the North refuses the South’s proposal for talks. He said, “It just means that the government will take an appropriate step.”

When asked about the likelihood of the North conducting a fourth nuclear test, he said, “There are no particular signs, but the possibility is always open.”

Chung did express willingness to resume Mt. Geumgang tourism, which has been halted since July 2008 when a female South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier.

“It will always be possible as long as the safety of our tourists can be ensured,” Chung said.

Meanwhile, lawmakers at the session also took issue of President Park’s “non-communicative behavior,” which both the ruling and opposition sides have complained of, stating it as a reason for the failure of some of her ministerial appointments.

Chung rebuffed this, saying “the President has a strong desire to respect the Assembly. She has communicated with many figures regardless of which party they came from.”

He stressed there is a big difference between what the public think of her and how she actually is.

“It is regrettable that Park is shown as a non-communicative figure,” he said.