President Roh Moo-hyun has floated his idea of an ``inter-Korean economic community'' to bring mutual prosperity to the two Koreas. Roh apparently plans to put top priority on economic cooperation during his Aug. 28-30 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The idea is drawing positive public response as Roh intends to open a new economic era on the Korean Peninsula based on mutual trust and interaction.
Marking the 62nd anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule Wednesday, Roh said, ``It's time (for South and North Korea) to start talks for the construction of an inter-Korean economic community.'' He emphasized the two sides will have to develop bilateral economic cooperation into ``productive investment'' and ``two-way'' collaboration so that the South can have more investment opportunities while the North can have a better chance to make an economic turnaround.
It is meaningful that the President has materialized his vision to upgrade present economic collaboration and help the North achieve epoch-making economic development. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Roh said the concept of the economic community is based on South-North interdependence in terms of the economy. He told the meeting that he will make every effort to put his idea into reality because he believes an inter-Korean economic community is one of the most important things to ensure peace on the peninsula.
We have yet to grasp what Roh exactly plans for the economic community. But his idea is apparently designed to serve as a long-term roadmap to bring economic prosperity both to the South and the North. After announcing a plan last week to hold the second inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, government officials hinted that Roh might offer to Kim massive public infrastructure projects to build roads, railways and ports. The South is also considering ways of providing energy aid, setting up a special economic zone, tapping natural resources and jointly developing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
If Roh's plan translates into action, the peninsula could emerge as a business, finance and distribution center for Northeast Asia, something the South has long dreamed of. But we have to bear in mind that the two Koreas should restore mutual trust before realizing an economic community.
The President expressed the hope that the upcoming meeting, the first in seven years, will be a landmark event in normalizing inter-Korean relations which have soured due to the nuclear issue. We welcome Roh's remarks as it means he well understands the need to ensure progress in the North's denuclearization as well as in economic cooperation and exchange through the inter-Korean summit.
There is no doubt that the success of expanded economic collaboration also hinges on strong support from countries surrounding the peninsula, including the U.S. And it is imperative for the North to completely dismantle its nuclear weapons programs in accordance with the Feb. 13 denuclearization agreement reached in multilateral talks in Beijing.
The U.S. has been assuming an affirmative attitude in resolving the nuclear issue and has indicated it would like the summit will help facilitate the nuclear talks. So the Korean government, as a U.S. ally, should respect such expectations and closely consult in the process of coping with the summit and nuclear talks.
In the process, a rigid approach is not desirable. Knotty problems should be resolved one by one on a gradual basis. Roh needs to show his strong will toward Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament, thus encouraging the North to take more concrete steps toward nuclear disarmament. Kim, who holds the key to the nuclear issue, must realize that denuclearization is the prerequisite to peace, reconciliation and economic cooperation on the peninsula.