Lee Hae-chan Returns from Pyongyang

Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan returned to Seoul on Monday after a four-day visit to Pyongyang that started March 7. “If the first step of North Korea’s implementation plan based on the six-party talks is carried out smoothly, I think we can review holding an inter-Korean summit in April,” Lee said in a press interview held at Incheon International Airport.

Lee also said that although he did not visit Pyongyang to arrange a summit, he has some progress to report to Cheong Wa Dae.

“I also have something to say to the U.S. Ambassador to Korea and the Unification Ministry,” Lee added, without elaborating on the details.

However, Uri Party lawmaker Lee Hwa-young, who visited North Korea along with Lee Hae-chan, said on Monday in media interviews that they proposed holding an inter-Korean summit to North Korean officials and that they seemed to agree to the idea.

“I don’t know what Rep. Lee Hwa-young said. But you should listen to me because I was the one who talked to Kim Yong Nam (president of the Presidium of the Supreme People`s Assembly),” Lee Hae-chan said.

“The North said that they will positively review the issue of missing people from the Korean War. I think we will be able to achieve some progress on that issue from a humanitarian perspective,” Lee added.

Meanwhile, when asked about the media speculation over former President Kim Dae-jung’s visit to Pyongyang and a summit meeting between the North, the South and the U.S., Lee replied, “It was never discussed.”

ditto@donga.com