North Korea has admitted, at least internally, that its July missile tests were a mistake and they were counterproductive, a South Korean ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday, citing information from the intelligence authorities.
As a result, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's leadership suffered a serious blow, added Rep. Choi Jae-cheon of the Uri Party.
On July 5, North Korea test-fired seven missiles into its eastern waters in defiance of international warnings, and the United Nations Security Council responded with a punitive resolution.
The North's provocative move has prompted the U.S. to tighten its restrictions on Pyongyang's alleged counterfeiting and other illicit financial activities.
"North Korea has concluded that the missile tests were a mistake. It is accurate intelligence from the authorities handling North Korea affairs," Choi told Yonhap News Agency.
His remarks could undercut media speculation that North Korea may fire more missiles or conduct a nuclear test in a bid to avoid the U.S. financial crackdown.
The lawmaker said North Korea is waiting for the results of the summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush next week.
North Korea has finally begun to send positive signals, he said, referring to the latest statement by its Foreign Ministry.
In the statement issued late last month, the North said it "would like to have the six-party talks more than ever as it will gain from the implementation of the agreement more than others."
The problem, however, is that there is little chance of Roh and Bush producing a significant deal on the North Korean nuclear issue, Choi said.
"The U.S. does not even want to discuss the issue seriously at the upcoming summit," he said. "After all, South Korea will have to send a special envoy to the North to make a breakthrough on the deadlock."
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung is still willing to visit Pyongyang again, Choi said, citing his meeting with Kim last month.
"The best timing will be around the U.S. mid-term election in November," he said. "If the Republicans lose to the Democrats, related discussions will gain further momentum."
The former South Korean president earned the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.
He met with North Korean leader Kim in Pyongyang in June that year for the first inter-Korean summit ever.
He planned to re-visit Pyongyang in a civilian capacity but with government support early this year, but postponed the trip indefinitely because of heightened tension over the communist state's missile activity.
Seoul, Sept. 6 (Yonhap News)
N. Korea admits it made mistake by test-launching missiles: lawmaker |
