Top unification panelist stresses patient approach
By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea's nuclear weapons are indisputably the biggest stumbling block to lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The reclusive state clings to them like an infant holds on to a favorite toy. So how can the outside world best deal with them?
Chung Chong-wook, vice chairman of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, suggested in a recent interview that the outside world should "outwait" the Stalinist country before removing them in four steps. President Park Geun-hye heads the committee.
"The North will eventually reach the moment," Chung said, referring to his call for patience to wait the North out until it comes to the negotiating table.
Only then, he said, will the outside world and Pyongyang be able to implement a four-step approach to do away with the latter's nuclear arsenal and its related weapons program.
"The first step should be aimed at preventing Pyongyang from making any further progress in its nuclear program," he said.
"We then freeze the program and increase transparency in North Korea's nuclear activities. One way to do this is having the reclusive state accept international inspections."
He said that the third step will focus on scaling back the program gradually, which will be followed by full denuclearization of the North.
"Getting it going is the difficult part," he said.
He added that the process should coincide with separate efforts to provide the North with humanitarian assistance, but didn't mention tying any progress the North makes with corresponding incentives.
Meanwhile, he also said the two Koreas could discuss ways to settle the Seoul-imposed May 24 sanctions, which, among other things, freeze all inter-Korean trade and other cooperative efforts, except in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
The sanctions were imposed on May 24, 2010 by Park's predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, after North Korea sank the South Korean frigate Cheonan in March of that year.
"The measures were not imposed by the Park administration and they are not legally binding," Chung said. "There are signs that the May 24 sanctions can be eased under the current government."
He also pointed out that South Korean enterprises have shown interest in participation in the "Najin-Khasan project" established by North Korea and Russia in 2008.
For instance, POSCO, Hyundai Merchant Marine and the Korea Railroad Corporation conducted an on-site feasibility study in July for possible investment into RasonKonTrans, the Russian-North Korean joint venture carrying out rail and port renovation.
This was launched to modernize the 54-kilometer railway between Rajin, a port city in North Korea, and Khasan, a town in the fast eastern part of Russia.
"It's likely that the May 24 measures can be eased if Pyongyang engages in inter-Korean talks sincerely," Chung said.
He stressed, however, that the repressive regime should improve its human rights conditions if it wants to attract international investment.
Pyongyang has been stepping up its efforts to defend Kim against the United Nation's moves accusing him of committing crimes against humanity and to bring him before the International Criminal Court.
By Yi Whan-woo
 |
| Chung Chong-wook, vice chairman of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation |
 |
The reclusive state clings to them like an infant holds on to a favorite toy. So how can the outside world best deal with them?
Chung Chong-wook, vice chairman of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, suggested in a recent interview that the outside world should "outwait" the Stalinist country before removing them in four steps. President Park Geun-hye heads the committee.
"The North will eventually reach the moment," Chung said, referring to his call for patience to wait the North out until it comes to the negotiating table.
Only then, he said, will the outside world and Pyongyang be able to implement a four-step approach to do away with the latter's nuclear arsenal and its related weapons program.
"The first step should be aimed at preventing Pyongyang from making any further progress in its nuclear program," he said.
"We then freeze the program and increase transparency in North Korea's nuclear activities. One way to do this is having the reclusive state accept international inspections."
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He said that the third step will focus on scaling back the program gradually, which will be followed by full denuclearization of the North.
"Getting it going is the difficult part," he said.
He added that the process should coincide with separate efforts to provide the North with humanitarian assistance, but didn't mention tying any progress the North makes with corresponding incentives.
Meanwhile, he also said the two Koreas could discuss ways to settle the Seoul-imposed May 24 sanctions, which, among other things, freeze all inter-Korean trade and other cooperative efforts, except in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
The sanctions were imposed on May 24, 2010 by Park's predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, after North Korea sank the South Korean frigate Cheonan in March of that year.
"The measures were not imposed by the Park administration and they are not legally binding," Chung said. "There are signs that the May 24 sanctions can be eased under the current government."
He also pointed out that South Korean enterprises have shown interest in participation in the "Najin-Khasan project" established by North Korea and Russia in 2008.
For instance, POSCO, Hyundai Merchant Marine and the Korea Railroad Corporation conducted an on-site feasibility study in July for possible investment into RasonKonTrans, the Russian-North Korean joint venture carrying out rail and port renovation.
This was launched to modernize the 54-kilometer railway between Rajin, a port city in North Korea, and Khasan, a town in the fast eastern part of Russia.
"It's likely that the May 24 measures can be eased if Pyongyang engages in inter-Korean talks sincerely," Chung said.
He stressed, however, that the repressive regime should improve its human rights conditions if it wants to attract international investment.
Pyongyang has been stepping up its efforts to defend Kim against the United Nation's moves accusing him of committing crimes against humanity and to bring him before the International Criminal Court.
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