Posted July. 12, 2004 22:10,
Prime Minister: Presidential Visit to the North Would Not Be Appropriate
Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan said yesterday that it is not appropriate for the president to pay an adventurous visit to North Korea, and added, It is time for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to pay a return visit to South Korea, regarding the promotion of a second inter-Korean summit.
After saying this during the National Assembly government Q&A session on unification, diplomacy, and security, Lee said, The Presidents visit to North Korea needs advance preparations, which can help settle the North Korean nuclear issue or improve inter-Korean relationships. The meeting itself cant be an object.
An inter-Korean summit meeting itself has symbolic meaning, but Im concerned about reverse progress occurring if the summit results are not good, said Lee, and added, an inter-Korean summit should be held on the grounds of settlement of the North Korean nuclear issues and the conversion of North Koreas policy to a more open one.
Lee made it clear that he would be free from the site for the summit, saying, It is not desirable for a decision on holding a summit to be dependent on site arrangements. The important thing is what should be accomplished there.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said, I dont have any intention to politically take advantage of Kim Jong-ils return trip to the South, and added, I will positively raise this issue through inter-Korean channels, including a ministerial-level discussion next month, and request that the North review this matter.
Asked a question, from Uri Party lawmaker Yang Hyung-il, about the contents of a signed letter from U.S. President George W. Bush, conveyed when the U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice visited Korea, that allegedly said: Its not desirable to have an inter-Korean summit before the U.S. presidential election in November, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon replied by saying, I dont know about that and its not true.
Defense Minister Cho Young-kil said yesterday, I dont think that disadvantageous conditions will be created in terms of military operations just because the administrative capital is moving to another region besides Seoul.
Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan said yesterday that it is not appropriate for the president to pay an adventurous visit to North Korea, and added, It is time for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to pay a return visit to South Korea, regarding the promotion of a second inter-Korean summit.
After saying this during the National Assembly government Q&A session on unification, diplomacy, and security, Lee said, The Presidents visit to North Korea needs advance preparations, which can help settle the North Korean nuclear issue or improve inter-Korean relationships. The meeting itself cant be an object.
An inter-Korean summit meeting itself has symbolic meaning, but Im concerned about reverse progress occurring if the summit results are not good, said Lee, and added, an inter-Korean summit should be held on the grounds of settlement of the North Korean nuclear issues and the conversion of North Koreas policy to a more open one.
Lee made it clear that he would be free from the site for the summit, saying, It is not desirable for a decision on holding a summit to be dependent on site arrangements. The important thing is what should be accomplished there.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said, I dont have any intention to politically take advantage of Kim Jong-ils return trip to the South, and added, I will positively raise this issue through inter-Korean channels, including a ministerial-level discussion next month, and request that the North review this matter.
Asked a question, from Uri Party lawmaker Yang Hyung-il, about the contents of a signed letter from U.S. President George W. Bush, conveyed when the U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice visited Korea, that allegedly said: Its not desirable to have an inter-Korean summit before the U.S. presidential election in November, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon replied by saying, I dont know about that and its not true.
Defense Minister Cho Young-kil said yesterday, I dont think that disadvantageous conditions will be created in terms of military operations just because the administrative capital is moving to another region besides Seoul.