hankyoreh

Leading presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak of the conservative Grand National Party said yesterday that North Korea will receive economic aid if it faithfully fulfills its commitment to disable its nuclear programs. Lee proposed the signing of the Korean Economic Community Cooperation Arrangement, or KECCA, as a way to activate inter-Korea economic cooperation.

Lee is currently leading the polls with an approval rating of around 50 percent, after winning the GNP nomination on Aug. 20. Though no liberal party candidate has yet been chosen, the liberal camp began its month-long primary election yesterday and will choose a single candidate, after eliminating four others, on Oct. 15.

Speaking yesterday at a forum sponsored by the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper in Seoul, Lee proposed his so-called “plan for a new Korean peninsula.” This plan is a stepped-up version of Lee’s “Vision 3000,” released in February, under which North Korea would receive economic assistance in return for dismantling its nuclear weapons programs and opening its economy. The plan also envisions a target per capita income of US$3,000 for North Korea.

Following the new plan, if the North disables its nuclear programs, a South-North economic community will be established to materialize Vision 3000, the KECCA treaty will be signed and a scheme regarding economic cooperation in a new Northeast Asia will be advanced.

Lee pledged to transfer the concept of South-North economic cooperation to that of investment, rather than one-sided assistance, so that two Koreas produce a win-win situation. “The KECCA will contain various measures for activating inter-Korean economic cooperation, facilitating inter-Korean trade and investment and liberalizing trade between the South and the North,” added Lee. He also proposed a tripartite cooperation project among the two Koreas and Russia in order to exploit Siberian energy.

When asked by reporters if he would push for a South-North summit if he becomes the next president, Lee replied, “I will hold a practical summit to solve visible problems one by one. It is important to move the Military Demarcation Line back or reduce military troops on both sides to ease military tension between the South and the North.”

The Military Demarcation Line dividing the two Koreas runs along the 38th parallel, just inside the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone, and serves as the overland border between the two countries. The sea border between North and South is the much-disputed Northern Limit Line.

Lee’s current position on North Korea represents somewhat of a departure from that of his party. Though the GNP has in recent months revised its North Korea policies in attempt to soften its image, its hard-line stance stands in stark contrast to the sunshine policy followed by the current administration and the liberal camp.

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