[Editorial]Really No 6.15 Behind-The-Scene Deal?

A North Korean merchant ship intruded into NLL again on June 13. It is very disappointing that the government continues its lukewarm responses to the repeating intrusions of the North Korean ships in the South`s territory, as if to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the 6.15 Inter-Korean summit in their way.

According to the communication document between the ROK Navy and the North Korean ships, North Korean ships intruded into the Cheju Straits as if they have merely asserted their right and the South Navy look as if they are begging not to intrude our territory. It is definitely the opposite of the usual order.

More interesting thing is the radio response of the North Korean commercial ship Cheongjin 2, which had passed through the Cheju Straits on June 2. The Cheongjin 2 said that the free passage through the northern route of the Cheju Island was decided at the 6.15 Inter-Korean summit last year. In relation, the opposing Grand National Party raised the possibility of the behind-the-scene deal with the North in terms of the passage of the North Korean commercial ships through the territorial waters of the South.

The related government officials, including Lim Dong-Won, the Minister of Unification, denied the allegation as groundless. However, the North Korean ships publicly asserted that they have just followed the orders from the higher level. It is questionable that the North Korean ship have falsified on such a sensitive matter related with the 6.15 Inter-Korean summit.

The government must recognize that the intrusion of the North Korean commercial ships and the lukewarm response of the Korean government have decreased the support of the people to the `sunshine policy.` The outcomes of the various polls upon the 1st anniversary of the 6.15 Inter-Korean summit reveal that the mistrust of the people related to the government unification policy basically originate in the North Korea policy of the South without principle. The South Korean approach to the North, which has not been fair and square, has brought about the question of the transparency and has consequently intensified the so-called South-South conflicts.

The historical significance of the 6.15 Inter-Korean summit cannot be over-emphasized. However, South Koreans expressed the mixed feeling upon the stagnated inter-Korean relationship today at the 1st anniversary of the Inter-Korean summit. It is curious why the North, all of a sudden, intruded the South territory unilaterally violating the agreement. What is the responding strategy of the South government? And when will Chairperson Kim Jong-Il keep his promise for the return visit to the South?

After many twists and turns, the dialogue between the North and the U.S. was resumed. The North has no reason to refuse the inter-Korean dialogue. North Korea must return immediately to the table for the inter-Korean dialogue.