hankyoreh

Lee Myung-bak, the recently-elected presidential candidate of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), has continued to criticize the planned second inter-Korean summit. Lee’s initial stance on the matter was different from that of his party, and he was quoted as saying, “As the South and North have decided to hold the summit, it should be carried out properly.” Lee has since taken a seemingly prudent attitude, even after the announcement that the summit was postponed to early October.

Rep. Park Hyung-jun, Lee’s spokesman, said, “Lee still hopes to see the successful opening of the second summit. However, he has expressed concern in connection with its postponement.”

Park does not, however, want Lee’s remarks to be interpreted to mean that Lee opposes the summit, as Lee has apparently made such remarks in the past to warn and pressure President Roh.

“It makes a big difference that the summit will be held in October, after Lee was selected as the presidential candidate, instead of holding the summit during the party’s primary race,” said Professor Nam Seong-uk at Korea University. “As the summit looks like it will be put off for political reasons outside of the North’s flood disaster, it is natural that he is worried about the matter,” added Nam.

Lee is reportedly concerned that Roh and Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, will reach agreement on issues such as economic cooperation, reunification, the National Security Law and the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. If he were to be elected president, he would be obliged to follow through on these issues.

Lee has proposed his own scheme on economic cooperation between the two Koreas after the North scraps its nuclear program and opens its economy.

Nam is worried that there may be discord in the South over whether or not to undertake the items agreed upon in the summit after the presidential election in December and that other state issues may strike obstacles as well. He stressed that Lee’s remarks to Roh were made in order to urge him not to reach unreasonable agreements with the North.

Lee, for his part, is worried about the impact of the summit on the presidential election. Lee said on August 21, “People might think that the GNP is ready to wage a war.” He cannot go against public opinion and openly oppose the summit, but he seems to basically be opposed to the idea.

Some in Lee’s camp are concerned that Lee’s remarks may strengthen his “conservative” image. Such remarks could conflict with Lee’s overall direction because he has maintained that the color and function of the party should be reviewed, while actually deviating from the GNP framework. Lee’s aides have expressed the hope that Lee’s remarks will not be broadly interpreted based on such concerns. As the date of the summit approaches, Lee may step up his criticism of it. However, this could eventually result in damaging Lee’s flexible attitude.