New Deputy Minister Post Created to Handle Nuclear Issues

It was reported on Thursday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is creating a new post, tentatively named “the Planning Officer for Peaceful Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula,” at the deputy minister level. The new planning officer will take over the post of chief representative of the six-party talks, which had been taken by Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck.

A top-ranking government officer revealed the new plan, saying, “This will be a meaningful step. Since the deputy foreign minister, who also serves as chief representative of the six-party talks, has not been able to deal with other general affairs, this measure will solve that problem and also hasten the process of resolving North Korea’s nuclear issues.”

So far, the deputy minister has found that his tasks have been delayed since dealing with the issue of the North with China, the chair of the six-party talks, and since the government’s conference group to cope with China’s history distortion attempt regarding the ancient Goguryeo kingdom.

A source from the Foreign Ministry said, “Whether Mr. Lee will be transferred to the new post as the planning officer, or another person will be appointed, has not been decided yet.”

The Foreign Ministry is also considering expanding the function and organization of a task force called the “Planning Office on North Korean Nuclear Weapons,” and operating it tentatively as a bureau until North Korean nuclear problems are settled.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that the government is set to present a new plan to found “Free Trade Agreement” (FTA) bureau under the Office of the Minister for Trade for an additional 30 personnel and to have the legislation passed at a Cabinet meeting soon. This measure is part of President Roh Moo-hyun’s special order that has emphasized the importance of the FTA.

Hyong-gwon Pu bookum90@donga.com