Obstacles to peace on peninsula remain

Speakers at a symposium Thursday sponsored by Donga Daily stressed that while the June inter-Korean summit was a landmark event that went far to place the relationship on a new level, there remain many great obstacles to normalization and peace between the two states.

The symposium, titled "The Consequences of the Inter-Korean Summit and Outlook", was held at the Sung-Kyun-Kwan University and headed by the Korean Association for Political and Diplomatic History, led by Shin Bok-Ryung a professor at the Kun-Kuk University.

Professor Yoo Gil-Jae of Kyungnam University held a skeptical opinion about the inter-Korean relationship after the Summit.

"Although a collaborative negotiating body is formed between the two states, from North`s leader Kim Jong-Il`s perspective, it is just another tool for him to utilize in his effort to strengthen his regime,¡± Yoo said. "In the days to come, it will be a contest of push and pull between the two Koreas, depending on the degree of international aid and benefits for North Korea."