Lack of inter-Korean dialogue obstructs aid: minister

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said
Monday that his government is prepared to provide North Korea with "comprehensive
assistance," but such aid is obstructed by the slow progress in denuclearization
efforts and Pyongyang's boycott of dialogue with Seoul.
"We will continue to exercise patience in our steady diplomatic efforts to engage
North Korea to help it become a responsible member of the international
community," Yu said in a speech to mark the 63rd Anniversary of United Nations
Day.
North Korea threatened last week to cut off all inter-Korean ties and accused the
conservative South Korean government of pursuing a policy of confrontation with
Pyongyang.
Seoul's relations with the North chilled considerably following the innauguration
in February of the Lee Myung-bak government, which broke from the two previous
liberal administrations' policies of engagement with Pyongyang despite criticism
the aid went directly to the nuclear-armed neighbor's military.
Upon taking office, the Lee government suspended delivery of rice and fertilizer
to the North, saying the resumption of such shipments would be tied to the
denuclearization process and Pyongyang's stance towards Seoul. In protest, the
North halted all government-level contacts with the South.
"As progress is made in denuclearization, we stand ready to support economic
development in North Korea by providing comprehensive assistance measures in
cooperation with the international community," the minister said. "However,
inter-Korean relations are currently at an impasse as a result of the North's
refusal to resume dialogue."
The North struck a deal with the U.S. earlier this month on a verification scheme
for Pyongyang's nuclear declarations, submitted in June as part of an aid for
denuclearization deal. In return, Pyongyang was taken off a U.S. State Department
list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Several days following the delisting, however, the North's state-run newspaper
Rodong Sinmun ran editorials threatening to ditch remaining inter-Korean economic
projects, including the joint-run industrial complex at Kaesong, as well as South
Korean tourism to the ancient city.