hankyoreh

2007

Former President Roh Moo-hyun said October 1 that the summit declaration of October 4, 2007, is a statement that has almost no ideological political character and consists of practical, businesslike content, but that inter-Korean relations have become blocked once again as a result of the Lee Myung-bak administration not respecting this declaration. He also said that the Lee administration appears somewhat nervous of late in its scrambling to offer various proposals for the restoration of relations.

In a speech held at the Seoul Millennium Hilton on the afternoon of October 1 for the opening of an international academic conference sponsored by the preparation committee for the one-year anniversary of the October 4 declaration, Roh declared that as far as policy toward the North is concerned, “reciprocity” which has been emphasized by the Lee administration since its inauguration, is a term that has been used to pick fights regarding a policy of dialogue and cooperation and is nothing more than another word for confrontationalism.

He also directly criticized President Lee’s doctrine of rehabilitating the ROK-U.S. alliance, saying that if there is any intention of achieving real dialogue in the current situation between two Koreas, it is not necessary to heighten and emphasize the current level of rhetoric in relation to the ROK-U.S. alliance for Northern deterrence in the present situation. In particular, he stated that there are people who are putting a strong emphasis on the ROK-U.S. alliance and ideological cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan, who openly state that North Korea is the nation’s chief enemy, and who even openly raise the possibility of a preemptive strike on the North, and asked if this could be called a strategy for peaceful unification.

Roh went on to state that OPLAN 5029 included contents regarding the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces carrying out joint operations in the North Korean region at the time of a North Korean emergency, and was suggested to South Korea by the United States at the time of Roh’s administration, but was rejected by South Korea. Roh said that the plan was being broached once again by the Lee administration and he made his opposition clear, asking if it is worth risking damaging the trust of North Korea and China by enforcing this plan, which does not even have any basis in the ROK-U.S. defense pact.

The former president urged a shift in awareness from the government and the citizenry, asking whether it is pragmatism to emphasize the National Security Law, the alliance and liberal democratic values, and stating that if the government sincerely wishes to achieve unification it can concede part of its sovereignty, and must accept that concession is neither surrender nor an act benefiting the enemy.

Roh arrived at the Hilton Hotel, the site of the event, around 11:30 am that morning together with his wife, Kwon Yang-sook. Following his departure from office on February 25, he returned to his hometown of Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, and this event marks his first visit to Seoul in more than seven months. Prior to the formal event at 6:00 pm, the former president had an audience at the hotel with formal and special attendants who had participated in the 2007 inter-Korean summit, and citizens supporting Roh gathered at the entrance of the hotel and welcomed him, waving banners and yellow balloons.

Over 350 high-ranking individuals from the Roh administration participated in the event, including ministers who visited the North as members of the retinue at the summit; representatives of the financial world; civic and social groups; prominent figures in the worlds of culture, art, and religion; and former prime ministers Lee Hae-chan and Han Myeong-sook. Congratulatory addresses were given by the Democratic Party’s Chung Sye-kyun, the Democratic Labor Party’s Kang Ki-kab, and the Renewal of Korea Party’s Moon Kook-hyun, while UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a congratulatory video. Former President Roh is staying overnight in Seoul and will return to Bongha Village after speaking at the academic conference to be held today.

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