Unification minister links inter-Korean summit to denuclearization

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea said Tuesday
that he is opposed to an inter-Korean summit unless it helps accelerate the
denuclearization of North Korea.
"An inter-Korean summit, if realized, should help make concrete progress in the
denuclearization of North Korea. Otherwise, the mere mentioning of the nuclear
issue at a summit would be meaningless," said Unification Minister Hyun In-taek
in a meeting with foreign correspondents in Seoul.
"A desirable summit meeting is one that contributes to the resolution of the
nuclear and humanitarian problems involving North Korea, as well as the issue of
South Korean abductees and prisoners of war in the North," said the minister,
known as an architect of President Lee Myung-bak's North Korea policy.
Hyun's remarks come amid mounting speculation about an imminent inter-Korean
summit triggered by Lee's comments last week that he may be able to meet North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il this year.
But Hyun made clear that nothing has been decided as of yet about a meeting
between Lee and Kim.
The minister went on to express doubt over whether the communist state is willing
to give up its nuclear ambition, calling its recent artillery drill a sign that
it has yet to fundamentally shift its stance.
North Korea fired hundreds of artillery shells into its waters along the western
sea border for three days last week, prompting the South to respond with warning
shots on the first day.
South Korea protested the shelling at inter-Korean economic talks in the North
Korean border town of Kaesong on Monday. North Korea reacted angrily, saying the
shooting was part of a "due military drill."
"North Korea's repeated provocations on the West Sea attest that the communist
regime has not yet taken steps toward fundamental changes in its positions," Hyun
said.
"Such provocations are not desirable at all. No matter what North Korea's
intentions are, they will never serve its interest. They are just meaningless and
serve no purpose," he said.
Hyun said that even though North Korea has signaled a willingness to return to
aid-for-denuclearization talks, its demands to have sanctions on it lifted are
creating "a great stumbling block."
"With regard to the North Korean nuclear problem, we are still stuck in a deep,
dark tunnel," he said. "If this continues, we can never be sure when the North
Korean nuclear problem will be solved."
"By making such claims that defy the expectations of the international community,
it seems to be stepping further away from the denuclearization talks," he said,
referring to the six-nation talks that include the Koreas, Russia, the U.S.,
Japan and China.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)