[Editorial] The Government Should Take Tough Stance Against the North

The government’s response to ‘an outrageous act of North Korea in the Yellow Sea on June 29’ raises questions. With the North Korean armed provocation, 24 young sailors of South Korea were killed or injured. North Korean boats are suspected to have intentionally crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border, which came on the eve of the closure of the World Cup soccer finals, arousing a national anger. In spite of an emergency, the government officials regrettably seem to be trying to settle the dust hurriedly.

“We maintained the sunshine policy in 1999 when the South and the North exchanged fires in the Yellow Sea,” said Im Sung-joon, the President’s top security and diplomatic advisor. His remark strongly suggests that the government would stick with the policy this time as well. In addition, one source of Ministry of Unification said, “Private-level exchanges and cooperation between both sides will be pushed for as planned.” It means that regardless of this incident, the government will continue Mt. Kumgang tourism business and private-level humanitarian assistance to North Korea.

This newspaper thinks that such remarks are not only far away from the national sentiment but also wrong from the policy perspective. The government has pursued its engagement policy and taken a host of economic and political measures to support the North. But Pyongyang repaid the South’s kindness with the armed provocation, which confirmed that the North has not been changed at all.

In spite of that, the top security and diplomatic advisor made such an inappropriate comment. Some officials of the government reportedly raised concerns that a hard-line stance on this incident would discourage foreigners from making investment. But they are just patching things up for a moment.

The government must stop all kinds of exchanges between the South and the North until Pyongyang takes reasonable measures such as an apology for the armed provocation, a promise of preventing the recurrence of similar incidents, and the punishment of those who are responsible for it. Of course, Mt. Kumgang tours have to be suspended. It means the government cuts economic assistance to North Korea, which is necessary for put pressure on Pyongyang to meet its demand. If the government asks its counterpart for an apology for the incident while continuing a private level of exchanges, the North would not take it seriously.

Despite the armed provocation, President Kim Dae-jung visited Japan as planned. Furthermore, the government does not make any comment on a street festival to celebrate a successful co-hosting of 2002 FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held on July 2. If it considers the bereaved families of the deceased 24 sailors, it should have come up with a revised plan on the festival.

The government should take a clear stance on this incident. It should reexamine its internal preparedness against the North and send a tough message to Pyongyang. This newspaper will keep eye on its words and deeds.