[Editorial] NK Needs to Open Its Heart

The first 159 members of the North Korean delegation ever disembarked at Gimhae International Airport yesterday. North Korean delegates are here to participate in an international sporting event hosted by Busan. Still it has a great historical significance in itself. For this is the first time in 50 years of the two Koreas` division for such a large number of North Koreans to visit South Korea.

But we have mixed feelings receiving North Korean delegates in such large numbers. While warmly welcoming them, we still doubt that this truly is a result of the coexistence of South and North Korea. The South Korean public might feel the same way when they are seeing the North Korean flags being hoisted in South Korea.

There are two conflicting aspects in observing North Korea. One is to overcome the bitter past and move toward ultimate reunification. The other is to regard North Korea as a main enemy. These two values have so far been conflicted with each other, and North Korea should be to blame for that.

Recently North Korea has shown remarkable changes such as its active engagement in the construction to relink severed cross-border railroads. Another positive sign for North Korea to promote reform and openness is that the Communist country designated Shinuiju as a special economic zone. But these signs are not enough for the North to obtain confidence from the international community. Three months ago, North Korea threw cold water on the euphoria of the World Cup soccer games in South Korea by initiating an armed provocation in the West Sea. Moreover North Korea has repeatedly put breaks on inter-Korean talks. Little progress has been made for the repatriation of those who were kidnapped to North Korea in the past. South and North Korea have failed to see eye to eye to address issues essential to confidence building between the two rivals, and the US government looks at North Korea with suspicious eyes.

We hope that North Korea would take the Asian Games as an opportunity to regain its confidence not only from the South Korea society but also from the international arena. Only if and when North Korea makes such efforts, South Korean people would truly support North Korean athletes.