S. Korea's new unification minister to work more closely with U.S. over N. Korea

By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's unification minister-designate said
Monday he will work more closely with the United States in dealing with North
Korea, as he prepares to take over amid the worst inter-Korean relations in a
decade.
Hyun In-taek, a university professor named as Seoul's top policymaker on
Pyongyang, sounded tough in line with President Lee Myung-bak's hard-line stance
toward the communist state, a departure from his moderate predecessor who focused
on persuading North Korea to engage in talks.
"The inter-Korean relationship is not a simple, linear one, but should be seen as
one that is connected to South Korea-U.S. relations and North Korea-U.S.
relations," Hyun told Yonhap News Agency over the telephone after his nomination
was announced.
As a key diplomatic advisor to Lee during his presidential election campaign in
2007, Hyun helped craft the centerpiece of Lee's North Korea policy linking South
Korea's economic aid to the denuclearization of North Korea.
The outgoing minister, Kim Ha-joong, had walked a tight rope as his capacity was
considerably limited by Lee's unflinching stance.
"Taking on the important mission at this critical time, I will make all my
efforts to support President Lee Myung-bak's philosophy and principles of North
Korea policy," Hyun said.
Unlike major North Korea experts, Hyun prioritizes South Korea's alliance with
the U.S. over reconciliation with North Korea and advocates international
consensus as the starting point in dealing with Pyongyang. Critics say his
approach neglects the unique nature of the communist state that they believe is a
key to drawing Pyongyang's compromises.
Hyun said he will try to persuade North Korea to accept Lee's proposal to help
resuscitate the North's frail economy. Lee's so-called "Denuclearization,
Openness, 3000" policy crafted by Hyun and other experts promises to help
increase North Korea's per capita income to US$3,000 if Pyongyang abandons its
nuclear program. Lee's liberal predecessors had given unconditional economic aid
to the North for reconciliation.
North Korea has flatly rejected Lee's campaign as "vicious." Critics say it would
be humiliating for Pyongyang -- whose key doctrine is "self-reliance" -- to
accept the overtly capitalist idea.
"There seem to be misunderstandings" about the 3000 campaign, Hyun said. "I will
try to draw domestic consensus about the campaign, and I believe there will be
opportunities to discuss it also with North Korea."
While his nomination coincides with the upcoming inauguration of U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama, Hyun did not elaborate on how his ministry will
coordinate policy with Washington.
Since Lee took over in February, inter-Korean relations have deteriorated
rapidly, with Seoul cutting food and fertilizer aid for the first time in 10
years and Pyongyang suspending dialogue and intensifying its tirades against
Seoul.
Kim is a political science professor at Korea University with a Ph.D. in
international politics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)