S. Korea defends proposed 'grand bargain' with N. Korea

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday that President Lee
Myung-bak's proposed "grand bargain" with North Korea on its nuclear program was
a result of close consultations with the U.S., countering media speculation on a
possible policy rift between the allies.

Lee, on a visit to New York earlier this week, said North Korea could be given
security guarantees and economic assistance if it dismantles the "key elements of
its nuclear program" in what he described as a grand bargain.
His aides later elaborated that the president's remarks were based on consensus
among South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan that they should break the
past pattern of giving rewads for North Korea's short-lived gesture towards
denuclearization.
While the phrase "grand bargain" came immediately under media scrutiny,
especially as the U.S. and North Korea were reportedly preparing to meet
bilaterally, Lee's aides said the president already presented the concept in his
summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington in June. They said the two
leaders agreed on it, seen as close to a package deal, instead of step-by-step
negotiations.
But U.S. officials initially reacted in a lukewarm manner after Lee made the
proposal at a speech in New York.
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said he was not aware of it and that
his government still hopes for incremental steps with North Korea.
"What we're trying to get is the North Koreans to make small, but fundamental
steps so that we can at least take some early actions going forth," he told
reporters, asked about the U.S. position on Lee's comments.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly only reiterated a diplomatically-worded
statement.
"I make it a practice not to comment on the remarks of other leaders. I just have
to refer you to the Republic of Korea for details of his proposal," he said at a
press briefing in Washington.
Some South Korean newspapers questioned the feasibility of the grand bargain,
saying South Korea's conservative government may not be in sync with the Obama
administration in dealing with the communist regime.
South Korean officials refuted the view.
"South Korea and the U.S. have consulted on the grand bargain and there is no
difference on the issue," foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said. "The
two sides will continue consultations on details."
He added South Korea did not have prior consultations with China, chair of the
six-way talks, but explained it to Chinese President Hu Jintao at a summit in New
York following the proposal.
Moon said that the grand bargain aims to put all of North Korea's
denuclearization measures and incentives from its five dialogue partners on table
and seek an "one-shot" deal, the same as the well-known "comprehensive package."
U.S. officials have said that if North Korea takes irreversible steps toward
denuclearization, it will be eligible for a comprehensive package of rewards
including the normalization of diplomatic ties.
Officials here say Seoul is reluctant to use the expression which they say may
give a false impression that the North's dialogue partners are focusing more on
incentives for Pyongyang than its obligations, the reason why South Korea prefers
the term "grand bargain."
lcd@yna.co.kr
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