President Roh: “No Intention to Induce North Korea’s Collapse”

President Roh Moo-hyun, on his state visit to Germany, made it clear that he opposes a German-style reunification of the Korean peninsula by absorption, under the premise of a collapse of North Korea.

Leaving Berlin and arriving at Frankfurt on the evening of April 13 (local time), President Roh held a meeting with Korean residents there at the Intercontinental Hotel, where he is staying. “The Korean government has no intention to provoke any sudden collapse of North Korea,” said the president in the meeting. “Even if any emergencies take place in the North,” he added, “it is extremely unlikely that North Korea would abruptly fall, as it possesses the organizational capability to keep the situation under control.”

Regarding the North Korean nuclear crisis, meanwhile, President Roh said in an April 14 interview with the German daily Die Welt, “There is hope, as chances are that North Korea will come back to the six-party talks.” He asserted, “The real question is distrust between North Korea and the United States. North Korea is willing to give up its nuclear development project, and the United States is ready to acknowledge the North. Nevertheless, they are in dispute over who will act first.”

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com