By Kim Hyo-jin
Experts remained skeptical of the government's plan for joint inter-Korean projects unveiled at Cheong Wa Dae Monday.
The government proposal features establishing a law in preparation for peaceful unification, test-runs of trains across the Korean peninsula and setting up cultural centers in Seoul and Pyongyang.
Seoul also seeks to establish a joint agricultural complex and launch a health project for North Koreans.
However, experts expressed negative views on the possibility of the proposal providing progress in stalled bilateral talks.
"It is just a unilateral gesture," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea Studies at Dongguk University.
He pointed that such policy plans will unlikely generate momentum for dialogue as inter-Korean relations still remain mired in a long stalemate.
"Even though there are growing hopes that Seoul may ease the May 24 measures, it remains to be seen whether the proposal will make any breakthrough," Kim said.
Seoul has been imposing the May 24 Sanctions in retaliation for the North's alleged sinking of the warship Cheonan in March, 2010, claiming 46 lives.
Prof. Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies even raised the question of whether the government was really willing to improve inter-Korean relations.
"The content of the plan is merely a repeat of President Park Geun-hye's Dresden Initiative," Yang said.
President Park Geun-hye presented the Dresden Initiative last March, which aimed at assimilating and taking over control of the reclusive regime, if and when the two countries become united. North Korea denounced it, saying it cannot agree on South Korean-led unification.
"What Pyongyang really wants is a phase-out of the May 24 measures and resumption of Mt. Geumgang tours. If Seoul seeks a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations, it should first grasp what the North really wants," he added.
"All the measures the government has proposed will be feasible only on the precondition of smooth relations between the South and North. Under soured inter-Korean relations, they are all meaningless."
Other experts pointed out that the possibility that the seemingly "ambitious" proposal will likely fail to win support from North Korea as they are unilateral.
They cited the need for the government to implement feasible measures on a gradual basis instead of repeating old pledges.
Experts remained skeptical of the government's plan for joint inter-Korean projects unveiled at Cheong Wa Dae Monday.
The government proposal features establishing a law in preparation for peaceful unification, test-runs of trains across the Korean peninsula and setting up cultural centers in Seoul and Pyongyang.
Seoul also seeks to establish a joint agricultural complex and launch a health project for North Koreans.
However, experts expressed negative views on the possibility of the proposal providing progress in stalled bilateral talks.
"It is just a unilateral gesture," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea Studies at Dongguk University.
He pointed that such policy plans will unlikely generate momentum for dialogue as inter-Korean relations still remain mired in a long stalemate.
"Even though there are growing hopes that Seoul may ease the May 24 measures, it remains to be seen whether the proposal will make any breakthrough," Kim said.
Seoul has been imposing the May 24 Sanctions in retaliation for the North's alleged sinking of the warship Cheonan in March, 2010, claiming 46 lives.
Prof. Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies even raised the question of whether the government was really willing to improve inter-Korean relations.
"The content of the plan is merely a repeat of President Park Geun-hye's Dresden Initiative," Yang said.
President Park Geun-hye presented the Dresden Initiative last March, which aimed at assimilating and taking over control of the reclusive regime, if and when the two countries become united. North Korea denounced it, saying it cannot agree on South Korean-led unification.
"What Pyongyang really wants is a phase-out of the May 24 measures and resumption of Mt. Geumgang tours. If Seoul seeks a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations, it should first grasp what the North really wants," he added.
"All the measures the government has proposed will be feasible only on the precondition of smooth relations between the South and North. Under soured inter-Korean relations, they are all meaningless."
Other experts pointed out that the possibility that the seemingly "ambitious" proposal will likely fail to win support from North Korea as they are unilateral.
They cited the need for the government to implement feasible measures on a gradual basis instead of repeating old pledges.
![[INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/5dfecd3b148845758412eb8826adf928.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
