Inter-Korean talks must deal with nukes

By Kim Rahn

Rep. Yoo Seong-min, chairman of the minor conservative Bareun Party, has demanded the Moon Jae-in government include the North Korea nuclear issue on the agenda of high-level talks between the two Koreas, if such talks are held.

Yoo said in a party meeting Wednesday, “North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles are the greatest threat to security on the Korean Peninsula, and peace cannot be truly achieved without denuclearization.”

He made the comments after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Monday Pyongyang was willing to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and was open to talks with Seoul. In response, Seoul proposed Tuesday holding high-level talks on Jan. 9 to discuss the issues.

“I hope the two Koreas can reach an agreement on the successful hosting of the PyeongChang Olympics and a reunion of separated families,” Yoo said. “However, the South needs to continue sanctions and pressure on the North because they are the only non-military solution to the nuclear issue.”

Yoo said he welcomed North Korea’s participation in the Olympic Games, but participation alone cannot resolve the nuclear issue. “We cannot resolve it by acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear state and agreeing to freeze it.”

The conservative party chief also criticized Moon’s historical view of the nation’s foundation. Moon and the liberal bloc claim the national foundation dates back to 1919 when the provisional government of Korea was established in Shanghai, while the conservative bloc claims it was 1948 when the North and South were divided and set up respective governments, three years after the peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule.

“In his New Year speech, Kim talked about the 70th anniversary of the country’s foundation this year, but Moon did not make a single comment about the 70th anniversary; rather he said he would prepare for the 100th anniversary next year, showing a one-dimensional historical view and causing unnecessary debates.”