N. Korean Spy Chief’s Visit Spawns Speculation

The North Korean spy chief's visit to Seoul Thursday has sparked off a flurry of speculations among analysts about a possible ulterior motive of the rare visit.

Kim Yang-gon, director of the United Front Department of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, gets into a car after entering Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Kim is the head of the North’s intelligence agency.

/ Korea Times Photo
by Cho Young-ho

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The North Korean spy chief's visit to Seoul Thursday has sparked off a flurry of speculations among analysts about a possible ulterior motive of the rare visit.

However, the presidential office said his visit was aimed at reviewing the implementation of inter-Korean accords signed between the leaders of the two Koreas last month. A presidential spokesman said Kim is to make a courtesy call on President Roh Moo-hyun Friday afternoon.

Some political pundits raised the suspicion that the visit by Kim Yang-gon, 69, director of the United Front Department of the North's ruling Workers' Party, aims to help South Korea's liberal camp win the upcoming presidential election by creating a mood of inter-Korean reconciliation.

Others anticipated the visitor would discuss with South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities the establishment of a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula after putting an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The leaders of both Koreas pledged efforts during their summit last month to replace the current armistice on the peninsula with a permanent peace treaty in consultations with the United States and China.

``The purpose of Kim's visit does not appear to be related to summit issues, but apparently seems to be concerned with political tactics,'' said Nam Ju-hong, a North Korea expert at Kyonggi University in Seoul. ``It seems as if the North wants to influence South Korea's presidential race.''

Nam cautiously predicted that Kim would discuss with South Korean authorities a surprise visit by North Korea's No. 2 man Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, days before the Dec. 19 election.

South Korea's liberal presidential candidates advocating policies of engaging the communist regime are running far behind conservative candidates in presidential polls despite the inter-Korean summit which they believed would give them an opportunity to turn the tide of the conservative-dominated race.

Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP) is leading the race with public support of some 40 percent, followed by independent Lee Hoi-chang, an ultraconservative, with 20 percent.

Both conservative candidates put an emphasis on the North's denuclearization before economic assistance.

Chung Dong-young of the liberal United New Democratic Party, who supports the ``sunshine policy'' of engaging the North through South Korean-backed inter-Korean economic cooperation, has some 15 percent.

Kim Young-soo, a professor of Sogang University in Seoul, said Kim Yang-gon's visit reflects North Korea's strong intention to solidify the summit agreements, which could be altered if a conservative government seizes power.

``It seems that North Korea wants to ensure the implementation of inter-Korean pacts even after the election, by speeding up inter-Korean talks during the Roh Moo-hyun government,'' the professor said.

The summit between Roh and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il produced a wide range of agreements aimed at expanding cross-border business projects. A key agreement is the designation of a ``peace and economic cooperation zone'' near the West Sea. South Korea plans to build a large-scale industrial complex in the area.

Roh also pledged sustainable investment to build up the infrastructure of the poverty-stricken North.

Earlier in the day, Kim and six other North Korean officials crossed the heavily fortified border to the South via the North's border city of Gaeseong.

``When did the first snow fall in Seoul? I was concerned about the cold weather, but it seems to have become mild,'' Kim said after crossing the border. He was greeted by a group of South Korean delegates led by Vice Unification Minister Lee Kwan-se.

Kim held talks later in the day with Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung and visited a special economic zone on Song Island off western Incheon. Kim is scheduled to visit other key industrial facilities in the South, including a shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering on southern Geoje Island and Hyundai Motor's manufacturing facilities in Ulsan, Unification Ministry officials said.

Before leaving for the North tomorrow, Kim is to meet with Kim Man-bok, director of the National Intelligence Service.

Kim is the second North Korean spy chief to visit South Korea. His predecessor Kim Yong-sun visited Seoul after the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000.

Kim Yang-gon is considered one of the key aides to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. He was the only official who accompanied the North Korean leader during the October summit.

His visit followed a series of major cross-border contacts. Earlier this month, the prime ministers of the two Koreas met in Seoul to discuss follow-ups to the summit agreements. The defense chiefs of South and North Korea also held three days of talks in the North Korean capital aimed at reducing tensions across the disputed border.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr