Pending Restart of Inter-Korean Dialogue

Lim Dong-Won, the Minister of Unification, said yesterday that, due to the increased foreign dependency of the North, the urges on the expanded exchange and cooperation with the South have been increased. And he anticipated the soon resumption of the inter-Korean dialogue.

Responding to the questions raised in the general session of the National Assembly, Minister Lim answered that the government did not think the North would break the promise for the 2nd inter-Korean summit since the circumstances had been improved, including the pending resumption of the North-U.S. talks.

In terms of the return visit of Chairperson Kim Jong-Il, he said that, since the North could not expect improving the cooperation with the foreign countries without the improvement of the inter-Korean relationship, the North would not break its promise for the return visit. However, ``no timetable was discussed yet,`` he added.

Rep. Choi Byong-Guk of the Grand National Party argued that the return visit would not be necessary nor meaningful without an apology of the North about the Korean War. Regarding the North Korean ships` intrusion into the South territory, Rep. Yoon Kyong-Shik of GNP urged on the reprimand and dismissal of the Defense Minister Kim Dong-Shin, saying that the South military should have applied military forces to stop them, according to the engagement rule.

On the contrary, Rep. Lee Jae-Joung of the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party asked the Defense Minister, ``The 2nd inter-Korean summit must be accomplished by the end of this year. Does the government have a plan to establish a pan-national organization, `Committee for the Accomplishment of the Inter-Korean Summit and Reconciliation and Cooperation,` which will include civic organizations as well?``

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com