Unification minister says North has misread U.S.

Missile test will not bring Washington to negotiating table, he says

Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said Friday that the United States does not appear likely to meet the North on its terms should Pyongyang go through with the test firing of a missile.

"It appears clear the United States will not compromise with North Korea in the way the North would like," the minister said, even if Pyongyang were to test fire the missile, he added.

The minister was responding to the suggestion by ruling Uri Party member Bae Ki-sun at a meeting of the National Assembly Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee that former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry’s assertion the U.S. should be ready to make a pre-emptive attack on North Korea makes it look like the U.S. is determined to keep Pyongyang from completing the test fire.

Referring to what Pyongyang’s intentions might be, Minister Lee said it "would be possible that [North Korea] might not actually launch the missile if it were just exaggerating its capabilities or putting on a show," but that "given recent activities" he thinks it is preparing an actual test firing and said the government is "working on a response to on the premise that the intention is to launch."

"We do not know whether the projectile is a satellite or a missile, but whether it carries a warhead or a satellite the very ability to fire it is a threat," said the minister.

Regarding recent comments by North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations Han Song-ryol, in which he claimed his country has the "sovereign right" to develop and test missiles, Minister Lee said that while it is true North Korea has the right to test-fire missiles, "countries that are a threat" are not supposed to do so. "In that sense, Han’s comments were wrong," the minister said.

As for former president Kim Dae-jung’s postponed visit to the North, scheduled for the end of June, Minister Lee said it was the former president's own decision to give up on the trip due to mounting tensions.

"The missile crisis was the main reason for the postponement. [Former president Kim] determined it would be more effective to visit after the crisis situation quiets down."