Some measures against North Korea may be necessary to punish the communist state for its nuclear weapons test, but from South Korea's standpoint an acceptable resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue can only come through peaceful dialogue, Seoul's Unification Minister-designate Lee Jae-joung said Friday.
The remarks came two days after the priest-turned-politician, breaking his long silence since his appointment at the beginning of this month, called on Washington to step away from what he called its "one-sided North Korean policy" and to immediately engage in direct dialogue with the North Korean regime.
"Multilateral consultation among related nations is important.
But at the same time, profound discussion on detailed issues is needed by facilitating as many bilateral meetings as possible," Lee said Wednesday in a special lecture for a group of English-speaking members of the National Unification Advisory Council. Lee currently serves as the senior vice president of the advisory group headed by President Roh Moo-hyun.
He said Friday to the National Assembly Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee, which was conducting a one-day hearing on his appointment, that it was "a sincere request" for Washington to help establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. The minister-designate was not required to win the parliament's approval for his appointment.
Lee said if he is appointed unification minister, he would work to improve the country's relations with the North while coordinating its North Korea policy with those of the international community.
However, he said Seoul's approach toward North Korea or its nuclear issue can sometimes, if not often, be "different" from those of other countries, which he said may have many other political interests or goals in resolving the issue.
"Therefore, I believe we must first clearly establish our position on the (nuclear) issue on the Korean Peninsula through sufficient consultations with the international community and work to resolve the issue," the minister-designate told the Assembly committee.
"(South Korea) must not deviate from its clear goal, which is to secure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, in the future," he said. "And there is no other force stronger than dialogue while working to realize peace."
Lee's call for continued dialogue and negotiations with the North was largely in line with Seoul's long-held policy to engage the reclusive state. But his remarks came amid a possible change in Seoul's view on how to resolve the nuclear issue.
The South has been refusing to provide any economic or humanitarian assistance to the North since Pyongyang tested ballistic missiles in early July and a nuclear bomb last month, and pledged earlier this week to continue suspending its aid until the communist state makes significant progress toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program.
If appointed, Lee said he would place humanitarian projects with the communist state before any other objectives of the ministry.
"Considering the agonizing reality of North Korean people and pains of families separated (by the Koreas' division), humanitarian issues (or projects) to help many who suffered great pains due to the division must come before any other issues," Lee told the committee.
But he later hinted he may oppose a resumption of Seoul's economic and humanitarian assistance for the North at an early date, saying the country cannot be changed only with bread.
"The North Korean human rights issue cannot be resolved unless (we) are able to prompt more permanent changes of reform and opening by North Korea at a broader level," Lee told the committee.
The 192-member General Assembly of the United Nations is set to vote next month on a resolution calling on Pyongyang to immediately halt its human rights abuses. Following four abstentions on four similar resolutions by various U.N. bodies, Seoul decided Thursday to vote in favor of the European Union-proposed resolution, a move that may spark a strong response by the North.
Pyongyang agreed late last month to rejoin international negotiations over its nuclear weapons program after a one-year boycott of the talks, which are also attended by South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.
Still, many believe no major breakthrough will take place during the upcoming round of the negotiations.
The nuclear dispute erupted in late 2002 following a U.S. accusation that the communist state was secretly running a nuclear weapons program based on highly-enriched uranium.
North Korea denies the accusation, but says it is entitled to the peaceful use and development of nuclear materials and facilities.
It tested its first nuclear device on Oct. 9.
Seoul, Nov. 17 (Yonhap News)
N. Korea sanctions inevitable, but peaceful resolution only option: minister-designate |
