UNDP Contenders Expect More Economic Cooperation
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Presidential contenders of the United New Democratic Party (UNDP) said Monday that they expect more economic cooperation to be achieved through the second inter-Korean summit.
The party designated this week ``peace week'' to mark the historic event, the first inter-Korean summit in seven years. Former President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il held the first summit in June 2000.
Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who leads the party's nomination race, said he expects the two Koreas to agree on building more industrial complexes.
``I believe it is necessary to promote industrial complexes in Nampo, Haeju and Najin,'' he said.
He suggested the setting up of a peace zone in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) by withdrawing military forces and arms stationed there, and the construction of peace parks.
Chung said he hopes to build a triangle-shape economic site to connect two North Korean cities and Incheon in the South to seek mutual economic development.
Lee Hae-chan, former prime minister, who places third in the nomination race, also hailed the second summit, saying it will be a turning point for relations between the two Koreas.
``The summit will change the relations from an economic community to the South-North union, which will eventually help achieve unification,'' he said.
He also insisted on shortening the period of military service and called for the abolishment of the anti-communist National Security Law.
He said the South, if it keeps its stance on the law, cannot keep up with the changes needed for moves toward a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
Moon Kook-hyun, a promising independent contender, said Roh and Kim should visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex together to show their firm determination to establish a peace regime on the peninsula and an economic community.