[Editorial] GNP’s unsubstantiated claims for hardline N.Korea policy

Posted on : 2010-09-20 13:01 KST Modified on : 2010-09-20 13:01 KST

Seemingly out of the blue, key figures in the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) claimed that North Korea has stockpiled one million tons of rice in preparation for a potential war. After GNP floor leader Kim Moo-sung made this claim on Sept. 16, Chairman Ahn Sang-soon and government authorities echoed his line. This appears to be a concerted effort to develop a new hardline policy against North Korea.
To date, there has been no official disclosure of the scale of North Korea's military rice stores within or outside the country. It is impossible for anyone to know precisely, as this is a key military secret even among the other North Korea-related intelligence concealed under a veil of secrecy. The fact that we do not even know why the Korean Workers’ Party meeting of representatives scheduled for early this month was postponed is an indication of Seoul’s intelligence capabilities and shortcomings.
For the government to spread rumors that North Korea has one million tons of military rice stockpiled, without presenting any real evidence for this, cannot be seen as anything but a political move to quell cries for resuming rice aid to North Korea. Such an approach will only diminish public trust in government policy.
Rice given as aid to North Korea is hulled prior to its delivery. For this reason, it is impossible to store it for more than one year at the most. Of course, one could envision North Korea stockpiling part of the South Korean aid as military rice over this time and giving the old rice to ordinary residents. This is why there cannot be too much emphasis on transparency in the distribution of goods provided as aid to North Korea. Still, this cannot be seen as a reason not to offer humanitarian aid. Previous rice aid clearly did contribute to reducing suffering among North Koreans and improving inter-Korean relations. The right approach would be to provide rice at a scale sufficient to provide real help to North Korea, while at the same time demanding what is deemed necessary.
At the moment, the Lee Myung-bak government is linking the issue of responsibility for the Cheonan’s sinking to both inter-Korean relations and the six-party talks. However, no easy solution will be found on that issue. Even as it claimed that the Cheonan’s sinking was North Korea’s doing, the Lee government neglected any objective procedures that would lead North Korea to acknowledge its responsibility. Moreover, every country except our own is now hoping that issues related to the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia will not be disrupted over the Cheonan issue. Under these circumstances, dwelling excessively on the Cheonan could easily lead to South Korea being shut out of discussions on important issues. It is no coincidence that there has been one report after another about how the United States is developing a new North Korean strategy with a greater emphasis on dialogue.
North Korea may be a backwards and troubled country, but that does not rationalize a hardline policy against it. Seoul could very well find itself hoist with its own petard if it attempts to foment hostility against North Korea with far-fetched claims in order to push on with its current hardline policy.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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