EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Oct. 17)

Same old threat policy

In an editorial of the Rodong Sinmum, the communist party's newspaper in North
Korea, the North threatened to end inter-Korean relations.
The article said if the South Korean government damages the North's dignity and
recklessly pursues what it called anti-North Korea policies, the North will end
relations. An example of anti-North Korea policies cited includes preparation for
an emergency in North Korea.
It is regrettable that the North is using its typical threat strategy once again.
Its intention is clear.
It believes these threats will create conflicts among South Koreans and between
South Korea and the United States, and as a result, the Lee Myung-bak
administration will do as the North wants.
Then, the North can assume a higher position over the South while still receiving
aid from us, just as it did during the administrations of former presidents Kim
Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
But the North has misjudged the situation. South Korea is a liberal, democratic
country where administrations are replaced by elections. The incumbent
administration was born with overwhelming support from the people, who became
sick and tired of the last two administrations' endless aid to the North.
Condemning the South Korean government just because its policies don't suit them
won't produce any benefits for the North Koreans.
Now that the North has been removed from the U.S.'s list of sponsors of state
terrorism, it should abandon its arrogant stance and align itself with
international standards of behavior.
An increasing number of South Koreans ask themselves, ???What's the point of
providing aid to the North when it assails us all the time????
North Korea might well put this grave threat into action and possible moves could
include terminating the tours to Kaesong, ending the operation of the industrial
complex in Kaesong or provoking responses on the Northern Limit Line in the
Yellow Sea.
The South Korean government must draw up detailed measures in case of the
worst-case scenario. Most importantly, it should abide by its principles in the
North Korea policy.
It doesn't need to upset North Korea unnecessarily, as President Lee Myung-bak
did when he said there could be a labor-management conflict if dormitories are
built in the Kaesong Industrial Complex.