Park's aide in hot water over anti-US view

By Kang Seung-woo

Kim Sang-ryul

Kim Sang-ryul, a newly appointed senior presidential secretary for education, has triggered a stir because of a book he wrote defending North Korea's nuclear weapons program, in apparent opposition to President Park Geun-hye's stance.

Kim, a former professor of English language and literature at Sookmyung Women's University, said in his 2005 book "Beyond Difference" that the North possessed nuclear weapons as a means of survival for a weak state.

In addition, he criticized the United States for designating terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the North as threats, calling it a self-centered idea.

He further criticized the U.S. government by saying that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 were not estranged from the violent American culture, and the Bush administration made the world blind to human rights and fear of war by exploiting this.

In the wake of media attention on his book, Kim explained that it merely introduced a theory from some academics.

"I am sorry that there is something misleading. However, the book was mainly focused on gender equality and mutual respect as a scholar who studied post-colonialism and feminism," Kim said in a statement released by Cheong Wa Dae.

"Regarding North Korea's nuclear issue, I just pointed out that the North was using brinkmanship tactics."

Kim added that he is a liberal democrat who strongly supports the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the partnership between Korea and the U.S.

"I fully explained the content of the book during the verification process," he said.

Despite his explanation, he still faces criticism ― even from the ruling Saenuri Party.

"Does any weak state pursue nuclear weapons? The reference sounds like that from members of the Unified Progressive Party," Rep. Ha Tae-keung said on his Facebook account.

"Seeing his support for WMDs in North Korea and Iraq, Kim looks like a warmonger."

The Park administration seeks to denuclearize the North Korean regime, teaming up with the U.S. and China, Pyongyang's long-time ally.

Despite the North's request for a restart of the long-stalled six-party nuclear talks, Seoul and Washington have urged the secretive state to demonstrate its sincerity to shutter its nuclear program first.

The North has carried out three nuclear tests since 2006, with its latest taking place in February last year.