No Negative Effect to Inter-Korean Relationship By Gil-Su Family

The deportation of the Gil-Su family to Seoul has puzzled both the inter-Korean relationship and the Korea-China relationship but is not expected to create a negative effect to the relationships among the three countries.

The North denounced on June 29, ``This incident has been plotted by an impure political intention from the beginning,`` but the North limited its criticisms to ``the mean behaviors of the intelligence agencies and some of the contaminated South Koreans who do not wish for the improvement of the inter-Korean relationship.`` Analysts believe that, by separating the incident from the responsibility of the South government, the North expresses its intention not to hurt the inter-Korean relationship. The analysis is based on the facts that announcement was made as a response to the reporter`s question and was reported by the Chosun Central Broadcast and the Pyongyang Broadcast, and the North did not use its terms `criminals` or `human garbage` for the North Korean defectors. The North focused its criticism on the UNHCR.

The government official clarified, ``the North knows that the South government was not involved in this incident, rather the UNHCR and China directly discussed the matter and reached the conclusion.`` Particularly, since Hyundai Asan will pay for the delayed Mt. Keumgang tour premium 22 million dollars to the North tomorrow, with the support of the government`s Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, the resumption of the Inter-Korean dialogue has been expected.

However, some experts are worried that this incident could influence badly on the inter-Korean relationship, pointing out that the North had announced, ``we will look at their final destination.``

Meanwhile, even though China sent the family to Seoul in the form of a third country deportation, which differs from its principle to deal with the North Korean defectors, the North-China relationship seems not to be affected negatively by the incident. Seeing that the North had kept silence until the Gil-Su family arrived in a third country and then released its news briefing by the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, the North seems to have cooperated with China to settle the issue.

A diplomatic source from Seoul said, ``The North and China exchanged their opinions during the process. Both seem to have fully considered the positions of the other side.``

However, China and the North will probably move to intensify the control of the North Korean defectors in China and end up with more harsh treatment of the North Korean refugees.

A related source worried that, by this incident, China will keep its eyes closely on the NGOs and the religious organizations related with the North Korean refugees, which will restrict the activities of the North Korean defectors in China, and consequently may create conflict between the South and China in the future.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com