N. Korea accuses S. Korea to link some conditions to humanitarian aid

Posted on : 2008-05-31 13:15 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
S. Korea’s “pragmatism” will result in nothing but bedeviling inter-Korean relations, N.Korea said
 employees of companies doing business in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex return to the South after passing through the Customs
employees of companies doing business in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex return to the South after passing through the Customs

With Lee set to mark his first 100 days in office on June 3, North Korea strongly accused South Korean President Lee Myung-bak of applying “pragmatism” in inter-Korean relations.

An editorial writer’s article on May 30 in the North’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun said, “The pragmatism will result in nothing but bedeviling inter-Korean relations and shame and ill-fated consequences to people.”

The editorial writer’s article was carried by only the Rodong Sinmun. But, a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan, the Chosun Sinbo, reported on April 4 that the editorial writer’s article is “a voice of (the North’s ruling) Workers’ Party of Korea with more prestige than any government statement.”

“Lee’s loudmouthed ‘pragmatism’ is nothing but a treacherous rash act as it negates the idea common to the nation and incites confrontation with fellow countrymen, ignoring the fundamental characteristics and reality of the inter-Korean relations,” the Rodong Sinmun’s article said. In harsh rhetoric, the North described the South Korean government’s pragmatism as “a criminal act,” “a hideous act of treachery,” “absurd garrulity” and “deceptive play worth pennies.” And then, the North’s newspaper denounced the South’s policy of security and foreign affairs, including the “no nukes, opening, and 3,000,” “four principles in economic cooperation,” “reciprocity,” “controversies over all-carrot policy” and “priority to the South Korea-U.S. alliance.”

In particular, the Rodong Sinmun said, “Pragmatism on the lips of Lee is no more than an anti-reunification watchword as it is intended to reduce the inter-Korean relations to those between businessmen seeking selfish aims and to perpetuate the national division for his own interests.”

While the commentator’s article didn’t directly comment on the South Korean government’s stance on food aid to the North, it said, “Since liberation, we have unsparingly provided aid to the South’s people when they were in disaster or in difficulties of living without conditions or assuming a patronizing attitude.” The remark was seen as an indirect complaint against the South Korean government of President Lee Myung-bak, which has said it would offer food aid to the North with certain conditions.

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