`Bold, Strategic Actions Needed for NK Nukes
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Song Min-soon, minister of foreign affairs and trade, said bold and strategic actions are needed to deal with North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which could turn a crisis into an opportunity.
Speaking at a luncheon co-hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, the Korea Society and the Asia Society in New York, Wednesday, the minister said that it is urgent to tackle the issue because North Korea's nuclear crisis tops any other issue in Northeast Asia and Seoul-Washington relations.
``This is the time for us to have the broadest view and take bold and strategic actions,'' Song said. ``What we are dealing with today is a grave potential crisis that could be and should be turned into an opportunity.''
He suggested a three-track approach to resolve the nuclear issue and security situation in Northeast Asia.
The first is for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the resolution of the North Korean nuclear program. The second is for the establishment of a peace regime on the peninsula through the deepening of inter-Korean ties and normalization of relations between the United States and North Korea. The third is to generate a Northeast Asia Peace and Security Dialogue.
``These three tracks are closely interrelated,'' Song continued. ``In order to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, the broad security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia must be taken into account.''
Song said that the six-party talks are the principle vehicle for addressing the first track and the upcoming inter-Korean summit will be helpful for achieving the second track.
``The summit will first of all aim at consolidating peace on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea will be encouraged to move forward on the path to denuclearization,'' he said. ``The summit will be a good occasion to give North Korea a better understanding of what benefits it will get as progress is made on denuclearization.''
He expected President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to seek ways to increase mutual trust through political and military confidence-building measures as well as ways to improve inter-Korean economic cooperation.
Song said that U.S. President George W. Bush is ready to have a normal relationship with North Korea once the nuclear issue is resolved. ``Meaningful improvements in inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean relations will signify that substantive change can take place in the armistice,'' he said.
Regarding the nuclear talks, which began Thursday in Beijing, Song said the parties will do their best to adopt a plan to disable North Korea's nuclear facilities by the end of this year.
``The focal point is the scope and timeline of the disablement and the corresponding political and economic measures to be taken by the other parties, particularly in the context of the normalization of U.S.-North Korea relations,'' he said.