Inter-Korean Summit
North Ought to Take Sincere Step Toward Rapprochement
South Koreans are cautiously weighing the possibility of the two Koreas holding a second summit with one of the major hurdles to inter-Korean relations having been cleared. North Korea's nuclear weapons program has served as a stumbling block to rapprochement on the divided peninsula since the first summit held June 15, 2000, in Pyongyang. On Thursday, Seoul and Washington expressed hope that Pyongyang will sincerely start implementing its pledge to dismantle its nuclear facilities since a banking dispute has been solved.
About $20 million of North Korean funds frozen at the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA) was confirmed to have been transferred to a North Korean account at a Russian bank via the New York branch of the U.S. Federal Reserve. This signals a breakthrough in the deadlock over Pyongyang's denuclearization commitment made in a Feb. 13 agreement during the six-party talks in Beijing. North Korea had failed to implement the commitment, asking for the transfer of its funds from the BDA that had been frozen by U.S. financial sanctions. If it withdraws the funds, the North has no reason to continue to delay disabling a nuclear reactor in Yongbyon, as it had vowed to shut down the nuclear facilities as soon as it got the money back.
Under the agreement, North Korea is required to invite inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency back to the Stalinist country to monitor the deactivating process. If the process is well under way, Seoul may resume the provision of 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to Pyongyang. Then, the United States and North Korea could hold a bilateral meeting to discuss the next phase and how to develop bilateral diplomatic relations.
South Korean leaders have often expressed the hope that Seoul and Pyongyang would hold another summit to discuss ways of settling peace on the Korean Peninsula and promoting national harmony. On Friday, President Roh Moo-hyun reaffirmed that he wants to meet North Korea leader Kim Jong-il if the North makes progress in denuclearization. In an interview with the daily Hankyoreh, Roh pointed out that a summit might take place prior to the Aug. 15 Liberation Day if the North keeps its pledge. However, he said he is ready to hold a summit even two or three months before his tenure expires next February.
His remarks are likely to touch off controversy over the timing of a South-North summit because it might come just before the Dec. 19 presidential election. Roh's critics raise concerns that he might be intending to exercise political influence on the presidential race by pushing for a meeting with Kim Jong-il late this year. However, it is hard to measure Roh's real intention.
What's important is whether the South can have a second summit with the North. There might be nothing more important on the political agenda than the summit as it is a matter of peace and national reconciliation. We have to closely watch developments regarding this issue, while urging Pyongyang to completely dismantle its nuclear facilities and take sincere steps toward rapprochement with Seoul.