ID :
44884
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 10:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/44884
The shortlink copeid
Unification minister nominee defends hardline policy on N. Korea
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with more details)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's nominee for unification
minister defended Seoul's tough policy on North Korea and said he will offer
dialogue to change Pyongyang's hostile reaction, refusing to bow to harsh
criticism from the opposition.
In a bruising confirmation hearing, Hyun In-taek toned down his hawkish stance,
vowing to consider humanitarian aid and respect inter-Korean summit accords, but
his broad commitment failed to dispel the skepticism over his appointment.
"Some say it's conservative and hardline, but that's not true," Hyun said, asked
by ruling party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun to explain the president's policy theme,
called "Denuclearization, Openness, 3000." "It's a policy of co-existence and
co-prosperity for both South and North Korea."
The Denuclearization, Openness, 3000 campaign was the focal point of the
controversy in Hyun's hearing -- carried out by the Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Unification Committee of the National Assembly -- as opposition lawmakers
questioned its effect after a year of disintegrating relations with North Korea.
Hyun, a political science professor at Korea University in Seoul, was the major
architect behind the campaign, which seeks to help North Korea raise its gross
domestic income to US$3,000 if it abandons its nuclear program.
North Korea has consistently berated the capitalist policy as "anti-unification"
and accused South Korea of seeking to absorb the communist country. In recent
weeks, the North has also vowed to take an "all-out confrontational posture"
against the South and declared all peace accords void, in what appears to be an
attempt to pressure Lee into changing his stance.
Calls for a softer approach are mounting at home, but Lee's nomination of Hyun in
a Cabinet reshuffle last month signaled a shift in course is unlikely.
"If we offer dialogue to North Korea with sincerity, I believe we can clear the
misunderstandings and resolve inter-Korean relations," Hyun said.
His remarks 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.
Intelligence sources said last week that North Korea appeared to be preparing to
test-launch a long-range missile.
The major opposition Democratic Party pressed Hyun to withdraw his bid for the
Cabinet, while the ruling Grand National Party defended his tough stance as a
break from the past 10 years of engagement, during which North Korea tested its
first nuclear weapon.
Rep. Park Joo-sun of the major opposition Democratic Party said Hyun is "not
suitable," citing his past columns that described North Korea as the "main enemy"
and a "burden."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling party described Hyun's nomination as
"fortunate," saying his predecessors "only tried to cozy up to North Korea" with
unconditional aid.
Some in the ruling party, however, voiced skepticism.
Rep. Nam Kyong-phil criticized the Denuclearization, Openness, 3000 campaign for
worsening inter-Korean ties and asked Hyun if he is willing to change it.
Hyun responded by saying, "The policy is basically a framework that needs to be
filled in with substance. That substance can be filled through dialogue with
North Korea."
He also said he will consider offering humanitarian assistance to persuade
Pyongyang to accept calls for dialogue.
The Lee government suspended food and fertilizer aid to North Korea for the first
time in a decade.
The pro-U.S. scholar repeated his position that Seoul should closely work with
regional allies, the United States and Japan, to resolve the North Korean nuclear
issue. He also said it is "feasible" that North Korea has acquired nuclear
weapons, but refused to acknowledge the North as a nuclear state.
The National Assembly has no power to veto the nomination, but seeks to examine
the nominee's suitability in a one-day hearing.
Lee withdrew his earlier nomination of Nam Joo-hong as for unification minister
following his inauguration in February last year due to pressure from opposition
parties and civic groups who questioned the hardliner's ability to improve
inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's nominee for unification
minister defended Seoul's tough policy on North Korea and said he will offer
dialogue to change Pyongyang's hostile reaction, refusing to bow to harsh
criticism from the opposition.
In a bruising confirmation hearing, Hyun In-taek toned down his hawkish stance,
vowing to consider humanitarian aid and respect inter-Korean summit accords, but
his broad commitment failed to dispel the skepticism over his appointment.
"Some say it's conservative and hardline, but that's not true," Hyun said, asked
by ruling party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun to explain the president's policy theme,
called "Denuclearization, Openness, 3000." "It's a policy of co-existence and
co-prosperity for both South and North Korea."
The Denuclearization, Openness, 3000 campaign was the focal point of the
controversy in Hyun's hearing -- carried out by the Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Unification Committee of the National Assembly -- as opposition lawmakers
questioned its effect after a year of disintegrating relations with North Korea.
Hyun, a political science professor at Korea University in Seoul, was the major
architect behind the campaign, which seeks to help North Korea raise its gross
domestic income to US$3,000 if it abandons its nuclear program.
North Korea has consistently berated the capitalist policy as "anti-unification"
and accused South Korea of seeking to absorb the communist country. In recent
weeks, the North has also vowed to take an "all-out confrontational posture"
against the South and declared all peace accords void, in what appears to be an
attempt to pressure Lee into changing his stance.
Calls for a softer approach are mounting at home, but Lee's nomination of Hyun in
a Cabinet reshuffle last month signaled a shift in course is unlikely.
"If we offer dialogue to North Korea with sincerity, I believe we can clear the
misunderstandings and resolve inter-Korean relations," Hyun said.
His remarks 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.
Intelligence sources said last week that North Korea appeared to be preparing to
test-launch a long-range missile.
The major opposition Democratic Party pressed Hyun to withdraw his bid for the
Cabinet, while the ruling Grand National Party defended his tough stance as a
break from the past 10 years of engagement, during which North Korea tested its
first nuclear weapon.
Rep. Park Joo-sun of the major opposition Democratic Party said Hyun is "not
suitable," citing his past columns that described North Korea as the "main enemy"
and a "burden."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling party described Hyun's nomination as
"fortunate," saying his predecessors "only tried to cozy up to North Korea" with
unconditional aid.
Some in the ruling party, however, voiced skepticism.
Rep. Nam Kyong-phil criticized the Denuclearization, Openness, 3000 campaign for
worsening inter-Korean ties and asked Hyun if he is willing to change it.
Hyun responded by saying, "The policy is basically a framework that needs to be
filled in with substance. That substance can be filled through dialogue with
North Korea."
He also said he will consider offering humanitarian assistance to persuade
Pyongyang to accept calls for dialogue.
The Lee government suspended food and fertilizer aid to North Korea for the first
time in a decade.
The pro-U.S. scholar repeated his position that Seoul should closely work with
regional allies, the United States and Japan, to resolve the North Korean nuclear
issue. He also said it is "feasible" that North Korea has acquired nuclear
weapons, but refused to acknowledge the North as a nuclear state.
The National Assembly has no power to veto the nomination, but seeks to examine
the nominee's suitability in a one-day hearing.
Lee withdrew his earlier nomination of Nam Joo-hong as for unification minister
following his inauguration in February last year due to pressure from opposition
parties and civic groups who questioned the hardliner's ability to improve
inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
