North Korea to Continue Selling Missiles

Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the North Korea`s National Defense Commission, has said that missile technology sales to other countries are `part of trade` so that he cannot afford to stop selling missiles, is reported.

On May 4, Javier Solana, the EU foreign and security policy chief who had visited North Korea with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, said at a press conference in a hotel in Seoul that "Chairman Kim explained separately the moratorium and the export of missiles in summit talks with Prime Minister Persson on 3rd."

Ahead of this announcement, President Kim Dae-jung exchanged opinions on the results of Persson`s visit to North Korea, the Korean peninsula`s political situation and cooperation of Korea and the EU, in the meeting with Prime Minister Persson in the morning.

After meeting, the Premier Persson at a joint press conference with President Kim said that regarding the timing of Kim Jong-il`s visit to Seoul, "I urged Chairman Kim to make a decision of his visit to Seoul independently from the U. S.`s review of North Korea policy"

He told that "Chairman Kim said he wanted to see the results of the American policy review before setting a date for his promised visit to Seoul. But I said I think if summit talks are good, you should decide independently". And he added that he felt Chairman Kim will be considering this".

President Kim made a comment that "it is worthwhile welcoming that Prime Minister Persson confirmed North Korea`s resolute position keeping promise, under uncertain circumstances of second South-North summit talks."

Meanwhile, Solana mentioned that regarding the amity of North Korea and the EU, "it can be said that the decision of amity is impending."

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com