School Guideline on NK Becomes Conservative
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
This year's guidelines for teachers on the issue of unification appears to have taken a conservative turn from past years, describing North Korea's efforts to open its economy as ``retrogressive.''
Observers speculated that the secretive state's series of provocative acts led to the stronger tone in the book published by the state-funded Education Center for Unification.
The guideline, to be distributed to teachers at elementary, middle and high schools, says that North Korea is attempting to open itself to the outside world at a limited level.
As for relations with the United States and South Korea, the North is showing limitation by putting priority on maintaining its regime, it said.
The previous version, on the other hand, said the North was seeking gradual reform and openness.
The 2009 edition slammed North Korea' current passive open-door policy, saying it is unable to resolve the economic hardship on its own.
``To overcome the economic difficulty, North Korea should foster a softer mood by solving the nuclear issue and adopting additional reform measures,'' it said.
Observers also pointed out that the guidelines do not say that the two Koreas must achieve unification by building confidence through reconciliation and cooperation.
Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung downplayed speculation of any political intention.
However, analysts said that the book reflected the current frosty relations between the two Koreas.
In retaliation for the Lee Myung-bak administration's tougher stance toward the North, the isolated state cut all communication channels with the South and restricted border-crossings last year.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the government should have put more weight on peace and co-existence.
``There are clear differences between the right approach on North Korea and unification education,'' he said. ``It should be based on facts but at the same time, retrieving the commonality of the two Koreas, and seeking peace and co-existence should be important factors.''