Secret Deal Cut, Regarding Kidnapped People?

Grand National Party (GNP) is raising the level of its attacks on the government’s policies toward North.

The newly resumed attacks were triggered by North Korean leader Kim Jung Il’s apology for the kidnapping of Japanese citizens, which came at the North-Japan summit held on Sep, 17, 2002. The GNP points out the contradictory attitude of North. Even though North has acknowledged the abduction of Japanese, it keeps the “no-comment” position on South Korean civilians and solders captured by it. Of course, under criticism is the absence of Kim Dae Jung administration’s skills in negotiations.

On September 19, 2002, GNP’s Presidential Candidate Lee Hui-chang, at a ceremony held for giving credentials to his newly appointed aides, stressed, “The government should do its best to protect citizens’ lives and national security. It should verify whether the kidnapped civilians and solders are still alive, and strongly request North to return those still alive.” Lee continued, “The government should have North to apologize for its terrorist acts like the explosion of KAL airplane.”

The GNP is likely to wage an all-out attack on the government-led drive for improving North-South relations such as its efforts to make out a deal for Kim Jung Il’s returning visit.

GNP Chairman Suh Chong-won contended, “Japan has received North’s apology for its kidnapping of Japanese citizens. But, we have gained nothing at the summit regarding matters about kidnapped fishermen and solders. Nonetheless, the government has just poured all of its efforts in construction of railroads. President should make an apology for the negotiations he has botched up!”

GNP’s Secretary General Kim Young-il pointed out, “Japan thinks about the gains it is to reap in talks. On the contrary, we have been just begging and doling out everything North wants. The approaches two governments have adopted are so different from each other. Now, looking at the difference, our citizens are too disappointed to support the government’s policies toward North.” Another senior member of the GNP, Lee Sang-bae, joined in the attack and said, “Kim Dae Jung’s administration does not care about what the public wants. What the government really cares about is the needs of North. And it has been just doling out whatever wanted by North.”

GNP’s Policy Board argued in the press release distributed on Sep. 19, “From 1998 to Sep. of 2002, the amount our government has given to North has shot up to 1.35 trillion won [approximately $1.1 billion]. It’s been increased 4.1 times higher than the total amount Kim Young-sam government gave. Entering this month, the government has been pouring out monetary aids to North. But, it smells fishy. The government seems to be trying to improve the North-South relations to gain more votes in the upcoming election.”

The GNP even alleged that there is some behind-door deal between President Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jung Il. GNP’s Vice-spokesperson Hwang Jun-dong pointed out, “Japanese media suspect of the reason behind North’s leader Kim Jung Il’s referring to the kidnapping as the ‘stupid act of a special agency.’ They believe that Lim Dong-won, who as a presidential convoy visited North in last April, gave advice to Kim Jung il and that Kim in turn accepted Lim’s advise. They think that is why Kim Jung Il made such remarks.”

In response, one senior member of Millennium Democratic Party alleged, “The GNP is just ignoring what the North-South summit has brought about to relieve tension over the Korean Peninsula. It’s just criticizing Kim Dae Jung’s Sunshine Policy only out of political purposes. Then, what policies does the GNP have toward North?”

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com