hankyoreh

the Kim Dae-jung Library located in Yonsei University

Former President Kim Dae-jung urged President Lee Myung-bak to resume talks with North Korea as quickly as possible, saying that inter-Korean relations would deteriorate if the chilled ties between the two countries continue for a long time because it may prompt the North to exercise a policy known as “Tongmibongnam,” a policy of communication with the United States and blockage of South Korea.

In a speech made on the afternoon of June 10 at Yonsei University in Seoul, Kim said, “For President Lee Myung-bak, the best way to turn South-North relations into a relationship of friendly cooperation is to announce that it will provide humanitarian aid for North Korea in the form of rice and fertilizer and pledge to implement the June 15 and October 4 Joint Declarations.”

“If President Lee decides to do these things, the inter-Korean dialogue will resume and the era of bilateral exchange and cooperation will be promoted,” Kim said. By declaring his willingness to implement the June 15 and October 4 declarations, President Lee needs to present North Korea with some kind of justification for it to return to talks with South Korea, Kim said. Kim also said that President Lee must give North Korea a reason to trust the integrity of his intentions by announcing that South Korea will provide the North with food and fertilizer aid.

“The June 15 Joint Declaration is the first document signed by the leaders of South and North Korea,” Kim said. “From the North’s perspective, it would be unthinkable for the South Korean government to neglect a document signed by Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army Kim Jong-il,” the former South Korean president said.

Kim said that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue swiftly, as Bush’s term is nearing its end. The Japanese government is also pushing to normalize diplomatic ties with North Korea. In the worst-case scenario, the “Tongmibongnam,” policy, in which North shuts out South, would be implemented, Kim emphasized.

“At present, we are in the midst of a political game on the Korean Peninsula involving the six parties,” Kim said, referring to the six nations involved in talks on the denuclearization of the peninsula: the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas. “If things go well, we will live in peace and stability amid a security regime in Northeast Asia managed by the six parties. However, if things don’t go well, we will face a permanent state of separation and confrontation due to the power game being played by these powerful nations,” Kim said.

The decisive factor in South Korea’s success is maintaining strong relations based on trust and cooperation with North Korea, Kim said. To do so, South and North Korea must find a common interest and a victory for both countries should be guaranteed, Kim said.

Kim emphasized that there is no alternative to resolving inter-Korean issues except for the sunshine policy, which he says hopes to find a joint victory through cooperation and reconciliation. “Reconciliation and cooperation in inter-Korean relations is favorable to North Korea, but they are also essential to our economy,” Kim said. “Inter-Korean economic cooperation will upgrade the South’s economy from the ‘miracle on the Han River’ to the ‘miracle on the Amnok River,’” Kim said, referring to another name for the Yalu River in North Korea.

If progress is made in North Korea-U.S. and North Korea-Japan relations, large-scale investment in social infrastructure and various other development projects will begin in North Korea, Kim continued. “Recently, China and some European countries are hurrying to make economic inroads into North Korea. But we have failed to use this good opportunity,” Kim pointed out.

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