ID :
205679
Wed, 09/07/2011 - 06:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205679
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Ruling party leader calls for flexible policy toward N. Korea
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's ruling party leader called Wednesday for a flexible policy toward North Korea in the latest sign that Seoul wants to improve strained relations with Pyongyang.
Inter-Korean ties have been tense since 2008 when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office with a pledge to link aid to the impoverished neighbor to progress in efforts to end its nuclear programs.
North Korea's two deadly attacks on the South last year have sent the already frayed ties plunging to their lowest levels in decades.
"It's time that we should switch to a more flexible reciprocity toward the North," Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, the head of the Grand National Party, said in a speech at the National Assembly.
He did not elaborate, though he outlined a set of proposals to help boost agricultural production in North Korea, which has relied on foreign handouts since the late 1990s to help feed its 24 million people.
Hong's remarks came a week after Yu Woo-ik, the nominee to lead South Korea's policy toward North Korea, vowed to explore ways to exert "flexibility" in dealing with the communist neighbor.
In a sign of easing tensions, South Korea's Red Cross is preparing to send baby food to North Korea across the heavily fortified border next week as its first batch of its emergency aid to North Korea's flood victims.
In August, Seoul offered to send 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid, including baby food, biscuits and instant noodles, to North Korea.
Hong said Seoul should give aid to North Korea in a way that could increase agricultural production in a country which has been suffering chronic food shortages.
The party leader also expressed his willingness to visit an inter-Korean industrial complex in the North's western border city of Kaesong in what could be a symbolic gesture to support the joint venture.
Despite lingering political tensions, the two divided Koreas have continued production at the complex, an achievement of the first inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in 2000.
More than 47,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean firms operating in the industrial zone to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other goods.
The Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it would review a possible trip to the complex by the ruling party chief.
South Korean politicians and ordinary citizens are not allowed to travel to North Korea without government approval.
Inter-Korean ties have been tense since 2008 when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office with a pledge to link aid to the impoverished neighbor to progress in efforts to end its nuclear programs.
North Korea's two deadly attacks on the South last year have sent the already frayed ties plunging to their lowest levels in decades.
"It's time that we should switch to a more flexible reciprocity toward the North," Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, the head of the Grand National Party, said in a speech at the National Assembly.
He did not elaborate, though he outlined a set of proposals to help boost agricultural production in North Korea, which has relied on foreign handouts since the late 1990s to help feed its 24 million people.
Hong's remarks came a week after Yu Woo-ik, the nominee to lead South Korea's policy toward North Korea, vowed to explore ways to exert "flexibility" in dealing with the communist neighbor.
In a sign of easing tensions, South Korea's Red Cross is preparing to send baby food to North Korea across the heavily fortified border next week as its first batch of its emergency aid to North Korea's flood victims.
In August, Seoul offered to send 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid, including baby food, biscuits and instant noodles, to North Korea.
Hong said Seoul should give aid to North Korea in a way that could increase agricultural production in a country which has been suffering chronic food shortages.
The party leader also expressed his willingness to visit an inter-Korean industrial complex in the North's western border city of Kaesong in what could be a symbolic gesture to support the joint venture.
Despite lingering political tensions, the two divided Koreas have continued production at the complex, an achievement of the first inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in 2000.
More than 47,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean firms operating in the industrial zone to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other goods.
The Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it would review a possible trip to the complex by the ruling party chief.
South Korean politicians and ordinary citizens are not allowed to travel to North Korea without government approval.
