[Editorial] Pyongyang's discourteous behavior

With Koreans¡¯ hearts full of deeply moving moments and heart-breaking scenes, the second reunions of inter-Korean separated families came to an end Saturday. Once again, we realized that a one-time event like this one has inherent limits in comforting those suffering the pain and grief of long separation from their families. Added to that are the North's discourteous remarks and behavior during the three-day, two-night reunion period, which prompted us to think that the event is moving away from its original intent and spirit.

The North appeared preoccupied with making the occasion an opportunity to spread its political propaganda. This was more obvious than in the first reunions in August. Noticeable at the reunions this time were the propaganda rhetoric of members of the North Korean delegation, who took the opportunity to lavish praise on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and his regime. The family members from Pyongyang reportedly gave their kin in Seoul the so-called ``Great Works of Kim Jong-Il'' and the ``Biography of Three Great Generals,'' referring to Kim Jong-Il and his parents Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jung-Sook.

Such a posture by Pyongyang must be corrected. Any politicization of the reunions will only make it difficult to maintain them. For this reason, the inter-Korean agreement for the reunions made it clear at the outset that the two sides would make no attempt to politicize them.

Moreover, the North's unreasonable response to reports by Seoul's media is in no way excusable. Pyongyang apparently took issue with reports by Digital Chosun (the Chosun Ilbo's Internet news site) that the northern family members' insistence on saying ``Long live General Kim'' put off their kin from the South. Pyongyang reportedly asked the Chosun Ilbo to apologize for the reports and went so far as to detain the photojournalist that the paper had dispatched to Pyongyang for the occasion. The ridiculous aspect of this incident was that it caused a delay of nearly four hours in the departure of the South Korean delegation to the reunions.

To be sure, the Chosun Ilbo only reported the facts. Pyongyang's quarrel with the factual aspects of the report makes us suspect that there may be some hidden motive behind its ridiculous complaints. We are rather anxious to know whether the North has a genuine intention to continue with the reunion agenda.

Also unpalatable were undue denunciations by Jang Jae-On, Central Committee chairman of the North Korean Red Cross Society, of Seoul's Red Cross Society president Chang Choong-Sik. We realize that the Seoul Red Cross Society's Chang could have been more discreet in his statements. But, the statements by North Korea¡¯s Chang, who headed Pyongyang's delegation to Seoul, were not only discourteous but also rude and audacious. The North Korean official referred to his Seoul counterpart as a ``poor soul who must pay his sin with death or rebirth as a right person.''

We are anxious to know how our side responded to the North's rude behavior. If the government is trying to conceal Pyongyang's behavior, which violates the principles and agreements made by the two Koreas, this will not be conducive to sound developments in inter-Korean relations. What must be said to Pyongyang ought to be said. Taking a rightful posture toward the North is needed. If the administration continues to show a willingness to tolerate Pyongyang's hypersensitive reactions and inclinations, it will hardly win national consensus for its North Korea policies.