North’s dialogue overture sees mixed reactions from parties

By Na Jeong-ju

Conservative and liberal parties have shown mixed reactions to North Korea’s proposal on Saturday that the two Koreas hold talks within a month “unconditionally” to defuse tension and seek ways to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) issued a statement later on Saturday to call on Pyongyang to show sincerity first in unraveling inter Korean issues, including its recent deadly attacks on South Korea.

On the other hand, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party urged Seoul to change its hard-line stance and push for inter-Korean dialogue.

“North Korea appears to be changing its tactics to seek a turnaround in inter-Korean relations. We need to understand what they really want,” GNP spokesman Rep. Ahn Hyoung-hwan said.

“North Korea should offer a sincere apology for its attacks on South Korea last year and promise not to provoke again before proposing any inter-Korean talks.”

He stressed the need to strengthen collaboration with the international community to deal with North Korea, saying it’s meaningless to talk about peace with the belligerent country without addressing its provocative acts.

The DP, however, claimed that a tough stance on North Korea will aggravate the situation further.

“The nuclear issue and the military confrontation between the two Koreas should be resolved through dialogue and cooperation,” DP floor-leader Rep. Park Jie-won wrote on Twitter Saturday.

“I hope the Lee Myung-bak administration will positively consider the North’s proposal for inter-Korean dialogue and make efforts to normalize ties.”

In a separate statement, the liberal party called on the government to lift a ban on the civilian tours to Mt. Geumgang and normalize the operation of the Gaeseong Industrial Park in the North, if necessary, to turn the stalled inter-Korean relations around.

The tourism program has been suspended since a female South Korean tourist was shot dead at the resort area in 2008 after entering a restricted area.

The statements came after North Korea made a series of overtures for “unconditional and early” resumption of talks between the two Koreas. Seoul has rejected the proposal, noting that it had doubts about the North’s true intention.

Seoul urged Pyongyang to first address its sinking of a South Korean warship in March and artillery attack on a border island in November.

The sinking of the Cheonan left 46 South Korean sailors dead and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island claimed the lives of four South Koreans, including two civilians.