South and North Koreas Promised to Cooperate for the Security of Arirang Festival and World Cup Games

Presidential advisor for national security and unification Lim Dong-Won on the 12th stressed, “the government is not considering linking North Korea`s Arirang Festival to Korea-Japan World Cup Games. But South and North Koreas will cooperate for the security of these two events. ”

Special envoy Lim had a press meeting along with the former U.S. ambassador Donald Gregg and the former North Korea policy coordinator William Perry at `2002 Jeju Peace Forum` held at Jeju Grand Hotel, and said as above.

Especially, he said, “Kim Jong-Il North Defense Chairman stressed that `the top priority in his is the normalization of North-U.S. relation`. Chairman Kim expressed his will to dialogue with U.S. as they settled the nuclear crisis in 1994 and missile crisis in 1998 through dialogues. ”

Previously, special envoy Lim briefed on his visit to North Korea in his speech at a luncheon saying, “North Korea, which had a long thought over the change of world situation, finally expressed that it would promote the cooperation with South Korea and international society. ”

He added, “I persuaded North Korea that America is willing to prevent nuclear proliferation militarily as well as diplomatically, and North Korea also is included in the object of America. ”

At the press meeting, the former U.S. ambassador Gregg said, “the resume of North Korea-U.S. dialogue unless U.S. criticize the sensitivity of North figures on rhetoric. ”

“Korean government will decide the provision of electricity to North Korea for itself, though prior consultation with U.S. would be preceded, ” said Perry former North Korea policy coordinator.

Jae-Young Im jy788@donga.com