[Interview] President Roh on North Korea, the media, and the upcoming election

Posted on : 2007-06-15 17:36 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST

"An Inter-Korean summit won't be possible unless North Korea's nuclear problem is resolved."

In an exclusive interview with The Hankyoreh on June 13, president Roh Moo-hyun said, "If we approach inter-Korean relations without a resolution of the North Korean nuclear standoff, it would not work well." However, Roh said, "If the North's nuclear standoff is in the process of being resolved, I wouldn't avoid an inter-Korean summit even if my term is nearing an end."

The interview was done in the wake of the 20th anniversary of the June pro-democracy movement.

Regarding controversy surrounding the government's media reform plans, Roh said, "Let's prove who is right through a public debate [between the president and journalists]." He continued, "In South Korea, the matter of real press freedom lies in freedom from owners of media companies, not on [the number of government] pressrooms or freedom from 'political powers.' "

Q (The Hankyoreh): While the government is simultaneously pursuing both progress in the six-party talks and inter-Korean reconciliation, some in and out of the government say it should put a priority on inter-Korean relations. What do you think about a matter of linkage between inter-Korean relations and the six-party talks?

A (President Roh): If we approach inter-Korean relations without a resolution of the North Korean nuclear standoff, it would not work well. Still, public opinion does not agree on the progress of inter-Korean reconciliation without a resolution of the nuclear standoff. When the North tested its nuclear device, I took a strategically calculated approach [while keeping under consideration the public sentiment that the South should be mete out punishment to the North]. However, I was severely hit [for not being enough of a hawk toward the North]. So, there is no consensus on the progress of inter-Korean relations with the North's nuclear standoff continuing. Accordingly, the matter of inter-Korean relations cannot separately proceed without a resolution of North Korea's nuclear standoff. In addition, the North's nuclear matter can not be resolved without cooperation with the U.S. Previously, South Korea had considered solely offering a light-water reactor to the North, but that's impossible technically. An inter-Korean summit can't be achieved without resolution of North Korea's nuclear matter. When the North's nuclear matter is pending, the North won't benefit from a meeting with the South's president. When the progress for a resolution of the North's nuclear matter is being made, inter-Korean reconciliation should make progress, as well, and that progress in turn should support the progress of the nuclear talks. In that case, if the North wants to meet, if I avoid it because there are only few months left in my term, it would shake up the progress in the resolution of the North's nuclear matter and thus delay it further. A promissory note by a former chief executive is to be paid by the next chief executive. Even if there are two or three months left in my term, the next chief executive wouldn't refuse [if I agree upon a summit but cannot fulfill my pledge].

From right
From right

Q: Former president Kim Dae-jung said publicly that a second Inter-Korean summit should be made before August 15.

A: Isn't there a prediction that the summit may happen before the date? Without considering a delay of the Banco Delta Asia matter, the date of August 15...if we make a very reasonable prediction, wouldn't that be a reasonable date?

Q: Currently, controversy is heating up among progressive groups over the policies and ideology of the current government. Your administration has clashed with progressives over an offer of coalition with the Grand National Party (GNP), troop dispatch to Iraq, and the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

A: The progressive groups should make a change. They should criticize something with alternatives in mind. They need to have an attitude to accept a changing reality. They should accept the reality of globalization and a change in our internal society. They can't adapt to change while subscribing to outdated theories or dogmatism. Opposition to market opening is not a viable alternative. Market opening is not a matter of ideology. It is a matter of survival. Anti-U.S. sentiment isn't an option. They should have an achievable alternative. Can we protect jobs with laws? Laws wouldn't help switch short-term contract workers to regular status. A progressive direction without alternatives or responsibility cannot succeed. Progressive groups should give up their fundamentalism and their no-compromise struggle. A no-compromise struggle is not democracy. They shouldn't refuse to talk about the issues or to make a compromise.

 President Roh Moo-hyun
President Roh Moo-hyun

Q: The GNP calls the ten years under Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun a 'lost decade.'

A: The GNP is a regionalist party [that takes advantage of the severe rivalry between Korea's two regions], consisting of the remains of the past military dictatorships, oppertunistic political flip-floppers, and a few from the democratic camp. The GNP is the party that bankrupted the national economy in 1997. If there is a lost decade, it would be the disaster created by the GNP. Wasn't the GNP the party that bankrupted the national economy in 1997? [Kim Dae-jung's and my administration] are governments that recovered the next ten years after financial crisis swept through the nation under rule of the GNP in 1997. Despite this fact, the two governments haven't been fairly evaluated because of hawkish reports by conservative media and devilish mudslinging by opposition parties.

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

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