By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to propose the creation of a special economic zone for inter-Korean cooperation in North Korea during his meeting with Kim Jong-il, a senior presidential secretary said Thursday.
In addition, Roh will watch the propaganda-oriented Arirang performance during his visit to Pyongyang from Oct. 2 to 4, Baek Jong-chun, chief presidential secretary for security, foreign and unification policy, told reporters.
He said South Korea has already asked the North to delete some sensitive parts of the performance before Roh watches it. Conservatives criticized it for being a Communist-propaganda show.
Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon ruled out the possibility of any ``surprises'' in the forthcoming summit.
He was responding to the conservative Grand National Party (GNP)'s cynical view of the summit. The GNP issued a statement containing ``three-yeses'' and ``three-nos'' for the summit. It said Roh must get assurances from the North on its denuclearization, seek ways of solving the separated family members issue and establish confidence-building steps in the military. On the other hand, Roh was asked not to suggest anything on a unification formula, which would not command support from the people; not to make any attempt to redraw the maritime border, described here as the Northern Line Limit; and not to make any aid commitment that would burden taxpayers here.
On economic cooperation, Baek said, ``The South could propose the establishment of a Gaeseong industrial park-like economic zone, as a step for the joint economic community.''
He said it is inevitable for the two Koreas to deepen business cooperation if the South and North want co-prosperity. He also hinted at Seoul's proposal of designating several more special economic zones in the North.
North Korean cities, such as Haeju and Nampo, have been spotlighted as candidate sites in which South and North Korean companies could jointly invest.
But Baek declined to elaborate, simply saying that ``although we have something to arrange, it is inappropriate to unveil details before the summit.''
Last year, pro-government and opposition party lawmakers submitted a proposal to establish a special economic zone around the border with North Korea to facilitate inter-Korean cooperation.
The proposed economic zone is an extension from Gaeseong in the North to Paju in Gyeonggi Province, crossing the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
From a long-term perspective, the lawmakers proposed the expansion of the economic boundary from Haeju in the North to Incheon in the South as an inter-Korean joint project.
Radio Free Asia reported Friday that there was a possibility that Roh and the North Korean leader might agree on the joint development of Nampo.
Citing sources in China, the report said North Korea has completed a project to build a large-scale logistics complex in Nampo, predicting Roh will propose joint development by the two Koreas.
Baek also said the South has decided to accept the North's proposal that Roh and South Korean summit delegates watch the Arirang performance prepared by the North Koreans.
``We have been invited and thus need to respect the host's position,'' he said. ``We have to stay away from the confrontational viewpoint of the past and approach the Arirang issue from the perspective of mutual respect.''
He said Cheong Wa Dae officials repeatedly watched recorded tapes of the Arirang performance, but didn't find any serious problems.
``However, taking South Koreans' sentiment into consideration, we've asked the North to revise the contents of the performance,'' he said. ``The North accepted the proposal to make minor changes in the repertoire.''