Unification minister says N. Korea's conciliatory moves tactical

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Seoul's pointman on North Korea said Wednesday that
the latest changes in the North's attitude towards inter-Korean relations are
more tactical than fundamental.
"There have been some changes in North Korea's hard-line policy towards (South
Korea) since July. But as the North has not changed its position on the six-party
talks and nuclear issue, these latest changes should be seen as tactical rather
than fundamental," Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said during a meeting with
ruling party lawmakers.
Hyun's assessment comes on the heels of a sudden shift in inter-Korean relations,
which remained virtually frozen following the inauguration of the conservative
President Lee Myung-bak last year.
In a significant step toward reconciliation, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met
in August with Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group, a major South Korean
investor in the North. The two agreed to revive a set of defunct inter-Korean
projects.
Kim then sent a delegation to mourn the death of former South Korean President
Kim Dae-jung late last month.
North Korea has also recently lifted a unilaterally-imposed restriction on
cross-border traffic to a joint industrial park in a town just north of the
inter-Korean border and agreed to resume reunions of families separated by the
1950-53 Korean War in late September.
Minister Hyun acknowledged the significance of recent developments, but he
stressed that the moves have only returned inter-Korean relations back to their
"starting point."
"I don't see the North's moves as a sign they have altered their stance. The
measures have only returned things back to normal," said the minister, noting
that North Korea's actions down the road will serve as a barometer for future
relations.
The minister also underscored that inter-Korean projects carried out by Seoul
will be centered on humanitarian issues and that the government was making
efforts to carry out the upcoming family reunion event slated for Sept. 26-Oct.
1.
"I believe that the family reunion event will take place before the Chuseok
holiday," Hyun said.
On Tuesday, the Koreas exchanged the names of 200 people looking for relatives
from whom they have been separated for more than half a century. In the process
of identifying and locating the relatives, the lists will likely be narrowed down
to half their current size for the reunions, scheduled to be held before the
traditional Korean holiday of Chuseok on Oct. 3.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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