NK Denuclearization Top Priority of Revision
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Unification has revised its policy to take a tougher stance on North Korea's nuclear program, a ministry official said Thursday.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Committee on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations, and is South Korea's first policy change since President Lee Myung-bak took office two years ago.
Details have yet to be revealed but the ministry official, requesting anonymity, said the revision basically seeks to develop inter-Korean relations and expand cooperation in accordance with progress in the denuclearization of the North.
The original plan was adopted in 2007.
Then, it focused on the implementation of the Oct. 4 Joint Declaration to actively push for humanitarian cooperation and strengthen inter-Korean ties. But it did not mention the North Korean nuclear issue.
"Since the Lee administration was inaugurated in early 2008, many things such as the suspension of inter-Korean talks and North Korea's second nuclear test have taken place," Minister of Unification Hyun In-taek said before the meeting. "So, we reached the conclusion that we cannot carry out the existing North Korea policy anymore."
The original plan was scheduled to stay intact until 2012.
The official said the biggest difference is that the revised plan states Seoul will proceed with inter-Korean cooperation projects in accordance with progress in denuclearization.
President Lee has stressed that the denuclearization is essential to the development of inter-Korean ties.
He proposed a "grand bargain" deal earlier, which called for offering the isolated state incentives such as security guarantees and economic support in return for complete nuclear dismantlement.
The official said the revision highlights that the government will stick to principles but take a flexible approach, if necessary, and promote the North Korea policy based on public consensus.
It also noted that the government will seek to build trust, while easing military tensions, he said.
The ministry plans to submit the revision to a Cabinet meeting and the National Assembly.