Unification minister nominee defends Lee's hardline policy on N. Korea

SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's nominee for unification minister defended Seoul's hardline policy linking economic aid to North Korea's denuclearization and said he will seek dialogue with Pyongyang to change its hostile reaction.

Hyun In-taek faced a bruising confirmation hearing as opposition lawmakers raised
thorny questions over his ability to resolve mounting tension with North Korea
and snowballing ethical allegations.
"It is not true that the 'Denuclearization, Openness, 3000' campaign is purely a
conservative, hardline policy, as many seem to believe. It's a policy of
co-existence and co-prosperity for both South and North Korea," Hyun said,
responding to ruling party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun.
Hyun, a professor of political science at Korea University in Seoul, was the
major architect behind the Lee administration's North Korea policy, which pledged
to help Pyongyang raise the country's gross domestic income to US$3,000 on the
condition that it abandon its nuclear program. Pyongyang has consistently berated
the capitalist-driven policy as "anti-unification."
Hyun's remarks during the hearing are expected to be closely monitored by
Pyongyang, which warned on Sunday that "inter-Korean relations will grow worse
and be pushed to collapse" should Hyun take office.
Pressed by Rep. Park Joo-sun of the major opposition Democratic Party on North
Korea's hostile reaction to the policy, Hyun said he would seek dialogue with
Pyongyang to alter its negative response. He did not cite concrete measures.
"That's why I will make sincere efforts to help North Korea understand the
policy. If we sit and talk with North Korea and explain the policy, we will be
able to talk," he said.
Pyongyang has suspended all inter-Korean dialogue in retaliation against Lee's
hardline policy.