‘Denuclearization Before NK Aid’
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak Monday said he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il if necessary to discuss the reunification of South and North Korea.
In his inaugural speech at the National Assembly, the new President reiterated his North Korea policy, which calls for more reciprocity from Pyongyang.
He made it clear that North Korea's denuclearization is a precondition to the reconciliation of the two Koreas and Seoul's potential aid programs.
``The leaders of the two Koreas must contemplate what they can do to make the lives of all 70 million Koreans happy and how each side can respect the other and open the door to unification,'' Lee said. ``If it is to discuss these issues, then I believe the two leaders should meet when necessary and talk openly. Indeed, the opportunity is open.''
The two Koreas held two summit in 2000 and 2007, both under liberal governments advocating the ``sunshine'' policy of engaging the communist North.
Lee stressed his government's approach toward North Korea would be ``pragmatic,'' not ``ideological,'' referring to his flagship North Korea policy, called ``Vision 3000.''
Vision 3000 calls for providing economic assistance over the next 10 years, in cooperation with the international community, to help North Korea open up more and boost its per capita national income to $3,000.
The policy has been regarded as much softer than policies that establishment conservatives want adopted.
``Unification of the two Koreas is the long-cherished desire of 70 million Koreans,'' he said. ``Inter-Korean relations must become more productive.''
``As already stipulated in my initiative for denuclearization and opening up North Korea to achieve $3,000 in per capita income, once Pyongyang abandons its nuclear program and chooses the path to openness, we can expect to see a new horizon in inter-Korean cooperation,'' he added. ``That, I believe, will benefit both our brethren in the North as well as advance unification.''
North Korea missed a Dec. 31 deadline to disable its main atomic plants and declare all its nuclear programs under the denuclearization-for-assistance pact signed on Feb. 13, 2007.
Under the deal signed with the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia, the North is to receive 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or its equivalent in aid and other concessions from the five other nations in return for disabling its key nuclear facilities and providing a list of its nuclear activities.
But the communist state failed to provide a complete list of its past and current nuclear activities including an alleged uranium-enrichment program.