Unification Minister Says Nuclear Issue Should be Addressed at Six-Way Talks

The government’s passive response to calls from home and abroad for it to focus on resolving the North`s nuclear issue during the upcoming summit is provoking controversy.

Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong said on Friday, “If the two Koreas can share the same vision on the future of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, rather than on the issue of denuclearization itself, I think we can overcome the difficulties in renouncing nuclear weapons in the North.” Asked whether “the nuclear issue should be on the agenda for the inter-Korean summit,” at the Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee of the National Assembly, Minister Lee answered, “We should let the issue be dealt with in the framework of the six-party talks given that measures agreed to at the February 13 agreement are being implemented now.”

Lee’s remarks draw attention as they imply the possibility of the nuclear issue being side-stepped in the upcoming summit talks.

Pressed hard by lawmakers who argue that, “It is irresponsible to leave the denuclearization issue in the hands of the six-way talks,” he defended his remarks by saying, “It is not. I anticipate the issue will be on the agenda while supporting the discussion on the issues already underway (at the six-party talks).”

He also triggered controversy on the same day by mentioning the redrawing of the western Northern Limit Line (NLL), the rescheduling of Ulchi Focus Lens, an annual Seoul-Washington joint training exercise, and the possible abolition of the National Security Law.

Lee said, “The NNL is by no means a territorial issue. The bottom line is how to come up with realistic and feasible measures to stop unexpected naval skirmishes from happening in the West Sea.”

Regarding the rescheduling of Ulchi Focus Lens, he commented that, “The government will review the exercise schedule from various angles in order to make a favorable atmosphere for the summit.”

Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said, “No discussions were underway regarding the UFL, but we cannot rule out the possibility of the issue surfacing during preparatory talks with the North.”

However, Foreign Minister Song Min-soon told lawmakers at the same committee meeting, "The UFL will be held as planned. Shouldn’t we usher in an era where that kind of issue doesn’t pose any threat to inter-Korean relations?”

In the meantime, the U.S. State Department reiterated on Friday that “the center of gravity of everybody`s diplomatic efforts is at the six-party talks,`` while expressing its support for the summit between the South and the North.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, “I don’t see how the coming inter-Korean summit will divert attention from six-party talks or replace them by any means.” Asked by reporters whether there was a possibility of a four-party summit talk including South Korea, North Korea, the U.S. and China, he dismissed the possibility, saying, “I don’t think that kind of a summit will be held.”

Japanese Defense Minister Yuriko Koike on Thursday expressed her pessimistic view on the inter-Korean summit while addressing the audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) during her recent visit to Washington, saying, “I am not sure how these discussions will actually lead to the solving of the nuclear issue."