By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
On the ninth anniversary of the June 15 inter-Korean summit accord, Monday, the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) blamed North Korea for the worsening inter-Korean relations, downplaying the agreement.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, blasted the Lee Myung-bak administration for its tough stance toward the North.
In the first inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in June 2000, former President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il adopted the joint declaration which paved the way for the two Koreas to ease military tensions and begin economic cooperation.
As a result, a joint industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong was established, which now has more than 100 South Korean companies operating there.
The two sides also agreed to settle humanitarian issues, including the reunion of family members displaced since the 1950-53 Korean War.
DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun criticized the Lee administration for the soured inter-Korean relations.
``No responsibility, no conviction and no countermeasure in the administration have led to the worsened situation,'' he said. ``If the June 15 summit agreement is implemented, inter-Korean dialogue can resume and the current situation can be reversed.''
He also proposed sending a special envoy to the North in an effort to make a breakthrough in the deadlocked inter-Korean relations.
``In a summit between President Lee and U.S. President Barack Obama, they should discuss sending an envoy to lessen tensions and solve the nuclear issue,'' he said.
President Lee arrived in Washington Monday (KST) for a summit with Obama.
Chung also stressed that the Lee administration has to give up its North Korean policy, dubbed ``Vision 3000,'' which proposes to offer economic assistance to the North only if it abandons its nuclear programs.
According to government statistics, last year's exchanges between the two Koreas hit the lowest in four years, with trade reaching $1.8 billion.
On Sunday, progressive civic activists held a ceremony in Seoul to mark the inter-Korean summit accord. More than 1,500 people, including leaders of opposition parties, attended the event.
GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae refuted the DP's argument.
``Who broke the June 15 accord based on the goal of de-nuclearizing the Korean Peninsula?'' Park asked in a meeting of the party's decision-making Supreme Council.
``I don't get why only the government is censured,'' he added, referring to criticism from opposition groups.
During questioning about the implementation of detailed agreements, Park criticized the DP for finger-pointing at the Lee administration only.
Rep. Gong Sung-jin of the GNP said in a radio interview that the joint declaration was made based on the two Kims' desires.
``For the past 10 years, inter-Korean relations were a repetition of the worsened ties, resolution against North Korea and nuclear armament,'' he said.
He continued, ``The June 15 declaration is just a collaboration of Kim Dae-jung's desire for the Nobel Peace Prize and Kim Jong-il's desire for nuclear weapons.''
The former President received the Nobel Peace Prize for his Sunshine Policy of engaging the communist North.