ID :
44911
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 11:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/44911
The shortlink copeid
Unification minister nominee backs hardline policy on N. Korea amid tension
(ATTN: UPDATES with presidential office to confirm Hyun in 2nd para, near bottom)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's unification minister nominee
defended Seoul's tough North Korea policy during his parliamentary hearing on
Monday, rebutting harsh criticism with offers to change Pyongyang's hostile
stance through dialogue amid heightened inter-Korean tension.
The presidential office will soon confirm Hyun In-taek as unification minister,
Lee's aides said after the seven-hour job interview.
The hawkish scholar toned down his stance, vowing to consider humanitarian aid
and respect inter-Korean summit accords, but his broad commitment failed to
dispel the skepticism voiced by the opposition over his suitability.
"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 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 of 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. The acerbic
tirade intensified in recent weeks as the North threatened military clashes 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 that a shift in course is unlikely. The
parliament can examine the nomination, but has no power to veto it.
"If we offer dialogue to North Korea with sincerity, I believe we can clear up
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.
The warning followed intelligence reports last week that North Korea appears 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 device in 2006.
Rep. Yoon described Hyun's nomination as "fortunate," saying his predecessors
"only tried to cozy up to North Korea" with unconditional aid.
In a sign of discord within the ruling party, however, Rep. Hong Jung-wook said
he is "really worried" about Hyun's ability to persuade North Korea.
Rep. Park Joo-sun of the opposition Democratic Party said Hyun is "not suitable,"
citing his past op-eds describing North Korea as the "main enemy" and a "burden."
Hyun said he will consider resuming humanitarian assistance, suspended by
President Lee a year ago, to get Pyongyang back to the dialogue table. The
nominee saw no imminent threat of a military provocation by North Korea.
Broadening allegations involving duplicate publications and Hyun's personal
wealth gave the opposition more ammunition.
Rep. Park Sun-young of the conservative opposition Liberty Forward Party attacked
his ethics, citing Hyun's thesis that was published in two academic journals in
the mid-1990s. She charged it was an ethical breach aimed at padding his resume.
Hyun denied the allegations.
The scholar used a calm demeanor to defend himself from acute personal and policy
questions. The presidential office will immediately begin a process to confirm
his appointment, senior aides to Lee said, adding the hearing revealed no serious
flaws in the nominee.
Lee withdrew his nomination of Nam Joo-hong as the first unification minister in
his administration a year ago due to pressure from opposition parties and civic
groups, who questioned the hard-liner's ability to improve inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's unification minister nominee
defended Seoul's tough North Korea policy during his parliamentary hearing on
Monday, rebutting harsh criticism with offers to change Pyongyang's hostile
stance through dialogue amid heightened inter-Korean tension.
The presidential office will soon confirm Hyun In-taek as unification minister,
Lee's aides said after the seven-hour job interview.
The hawkish scholar toned down his stance, vowing to consider humanitarian aid
and respect inter-Korean summit accords, but his broad commitment failed to
dispel the skepticism voiced by the opposition over his suitability.
"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 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 of 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. The acerbic
tirade intensified in recent weeks as the North threatened military clashes 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 that a shift in course is unlikely. The
parliament can examine the nomination, but has no power to veto it.
"If we offer dialogue to North Korea with sincerity, I believe we can clear up
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.
The warning followed intelligence reports last week that North Korea appears 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 device in 2006.
Rep. Yoon described Hyun's nomination as "fortunate," saying his predecessors
"only tried to cozy up to North Korea" with unconditional aid.
In a sign of discord within the ruling party, however, Rep. Hong Jung-wook said
he is "really worried" about Hyun's ability to persuade North Korea.
Rep. Park Joo-sun of the opposition Democratic Party said Hyun is "not suitable,"
citing his past op-eds describing North Korea as the "main enemy" and a "burden."
Hyun said he will consider resuming humanitarian assistance, suspended by
President Lee a year ago, to get Pyongyang back to the dialogue table. The
nominee saw no imminent threat of a military provocation by North Korea.
Broadening allegations involving duplicate publications and Hyun's personal
wealth gave the opposition more ammunition.
Rep. Park Sun-young of the conservative opposition Liberty Forward Party attacked
his ethics, citing Hyun's thesis that was published in two academic journals in
the mid-1990s. She charged it was an ethical breach aimed at padding his resume.
Hyun denied the allegations.
The scholar used a calm demeanor to defend himself from acute personal and policy
questions. The presidential office will immediately begin a process to confirm
his appointment, senior aides to Lee said, adding the hearing revealed no serious
flaws in the nominee.
Lee withdrew his nomination of Nam Joo-hong as the first unification minister in
his administration a year ago due to pressure from opposition parties and civic
groups, who questioned the hard-liner's ability to improve inter-Korean ties.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
