Versions of Kim-Mori agreement vary

It is natural for one to interpret the words of other people to one's advantage. But this is hardly tolerable when it concerns the results of an international summit.

On the outcome of an encounter between President Kim Dae-Jung and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at Atami over the weekend, Korea and Japan displayed a considerable difference of viewpoints, particularly with regard to economic assistance to North Korea. The Seoul government is complacent over having elicited a positive promise for such aid; the Tokyo government thinks otherwise.

Japanese newspapers Monday pointed out a divergence in their points of view. The Asahi Shimbun reported that Mori had expressed concern about the military aspect of aid to North Korea upon Kim's request for it. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese leader reacted negatively to the request for additional aid to the North.

What gave rise to this difference? The Korean side might have stretched its imagination rather far in interpreting Japan's offer of rice aid. Prime Minister Mori made a promise for "conditional cooperation"; Korea emphasized the promise of ¡°cooperation,¡± while Japan stood by "condition."

Mori has been on record that positive cooperation would follow Pyongyang's normalization of diplomatic ties with Tokyo but that the Japanese people hardly would be forthcoming if they suspect possible diversion of economic aid to the reinforcement of North Korea's military.

Thus, the words of Mori rather should be construed as conveying the difficulty of extending positive assistance to North Korea at this time.

We are not interested in playing down the diplomatic achievement of the Korean government. The reality should, however, be accepted that while Seoul might ask for Japanese economic aid to North Korea, the decision is up to Tokyo.

The worst-case scenario for Japan is sure to ensue in relation to North Korea if it pours much money into the North at the request of neighboring countries with no accompanying gains in influence. It is wrong for the Seoul government to indulge in self-complacent interpretations of diplomatic affairs for it might offend the Japanese to no avail.

Shim Kyu-Sun ksshim@donga.com