hankyoreh

As the inter-Korean summit is now less than 10 days away, President Roh’s staff is busy setting the final details of the schedule. Included in the schedule will be a post-summit visit to the Gaesong industrial complex and possible attendance at the propaganda-laden Arirang gymnastics performance with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

According to officials at the Blue House, or presidential office, who have been working on the itinerary with their North Korean counterparts, President Roh Moo-hyun will visit the industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong on his way home after completing the second inter-Korean summit meeting from October 2-4 in Pyongyang.

“On October 4, President Roh and his wife, along with other officials, will visit the Gaeseong industrial complex,” Roh’s spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said in a regular briefing on September 21. “However, the North informed us that the North won’t participate into the Gaeseong visit,” the spokesman said. Cheon’s remark implies that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will not visit Gaeseong with his South Korean counterpart.

On October 2, President Roh will enter the North using his limousine, according to the spokesman. Unlike the first summit in 2000, when then-President Kim Dae-jung was greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Roh will be greeted by the North’s number-two man Kim Young-nam, the chairman of the Supreme People’s Committee, Cheon said.

“Taking into account various special conditions in the North, we cannot confirm anything about the matter. However, we are aware that the North’s leader has no plans to greet President Roh,” the spokesman said.

In addition, it is still undecided whether the North Korean leader Kim will join two dinner meetings, Cheon said. Roh will meet Kim Young-nam on October 2 and both sides are believed to have discussed about specific summit timetable between the leaders of two Koreas.

In connection with President Roh’s viewing of the Arirang gymnastics performance, Chun said, “While an advance team was staying in North Korea, the North proposed that the South consider it. The advance team initially planned to see the performance but couldn’t do so due to bad weather. The matter will be decided at a committee on the summit sooner or later.” There are worries that watching the performance could backfire in South Korea as the conservatives opposing the summit would be expected to criticize President Roh as being sympathetic to North Korea’s propaganda.

“The fact that the two leaders watch the (Arirang) performance together could be a message of peace to the world. The North also is considerably forward-thinking. It is voluntarily changing some parts of the performance including the card section. The North even asked us if there is anything else to be changed. We shouldn’t think the performance only as the Stalinist country’s propaganda,” Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told reporters.

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