It is only natural Pyongyang sends an official delegation to condole the passing of the greatest reconciler of rival Koreas. Far less natural is the fact that North Koreans' first official visit to the South since President Lee Myung-bak took office one-and-a-half years ago is to mourn the demise of the creator of the Sunshine Policy ― if not the engagement policy itself.
In 1994 when North Korea's Great Leader, Kim Il-sung, died, the then Kim Young-sam administration disallowed the visit to the North by even private groups, chilling the inter-Korean relationship beyond reparation. So the two governments are right this time to send and receive six officials who will bring a wreath bearing the name of the Dear Leader.
They should not stop there by limiting the purpose of the visit to simple extension of condolences but actively seek to make the most of this occasion for relinking the severed ties. Hard-liners here may take issue with the North's initial contact with the aides of the late former president instead of an official route, arguing it is a ploy to widen the splits within the South. One cannot entirely rule out such possibility, but Pyongyang might be aware that any genuine, lasting relationship ― if it has intention for one ― must be through the governmental channel.
If all this were occurring under the previous administration that inherited the Sunshine Policy, former President Roh Moo-hyun would have called the northern delegation in Cheong Wa Dae and exchanged greetings ― even messages ― with his North Korean counterpart through them. And if the conservative incumbent President can also turn this unlikely scenario into a reality ― most Koreans might find few reasons he can't do so ― Lee is taking away at least one third of burdens on his people with the other two being economy and democracy.
Considering Lee might not go that far, the President should at least direct his aides to meet northern delegates whether the visitors first propose it or not.
Lee ought to look into the situations across the Pacific, where the Barack Obama administration is making thinly-veiled efforts to find a breakthrough in its relationship with North Korea. Washington is currently mobilizing the best and most experienced manpower it has, including former President Bill Clinton and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson both of whom have directly met and talked with Kim Jong-il, to grope for a way out of the nuclear and diplomatic impasse.
That South Korea and the U.S. are to coordinate their sticks on North Korea upon the visit of Philip Goldberg, a U.S. diplomat in charge of sanctions, on Sunday is no reason Seoul should not think about the carrots, as Washington does.
The composition of North Korean delegation, including two officials who belong to the most powerful core of the communist Workers' Party and are closest aides to Kim Jong-il particularly in inter-Korean relationship, also requires their serious treatment and holding of in-depth discussion about the urgent thaw on the Korean Peninsula.
Upon the news of former President Kim Dae-jung's decease, President Lee said he hoped ``the great leader's lifetime wish would lead to national unity and inter-Korean reconciliation." Lee should turn his words into action. Anything less is a defamation of the late leader.