Counterfeiting Cover Up Alleged

OhmyNews, an internet newspaper, reported on April 11 that U.S. President George W. Bush first brought up North Korea’s dollar counterfeiting issue at the Korea-U.S. summit talks on June 10 last year with the intention of declaring legal measures, but that South Korea’s government did not reveal these facts at all.

The news company stated it obtained a written record of the bilateral summit meeting which confirmed such details. Criticism is arising from both within and outside the administration that a classified government document such as a summit meeting record has once again been leaked out, denouncing this case as “a serious breach of discipline.”

Counterfeiters Sent to Prison-

According to the records, President Bush remarked to President Roh Moo-hyun at the Washington meeting that another problem lay in the various illicit businesses conducted by North Korea. He made clear that legal actions would be taken against counterfeiting, stating that North Koreans were very good at forging hundred-dollar notes and that counterfeiters in the U.S. are sent to prison, as in the case of some who were just arrested.

President Bush also raised the possibility of the North’s nuclear program, explaining how his biggest concern was the proliferation of nuclear materials, in which process those allegedly possessing nuclear arms sell them to overseas, where dirty bombs are created.

Adding that such a concern was precisely the reason for his emphasis on a peaceful resolution, he maintained diplomacy always came first and although military action might be necessary as the very last resource, he did not want to send any military forces into North Korea.

The president went on to say that it was important to not send mixed signals, which lead to mixed statements, and demanded that Korea and the U.S. speak with one voice on both the North’s nuclear program and its illicit activities.

Bush Did Not Remark on South-North Talks-

At the official press briefing held right after the summit talks, Cheong Wa Dae and the government did not disclose the fact that President Bush mentioned for the first time the North’s illegal acts, such as counterfeiting dollars and producing dirty bombs. The authorities only emphasized that he accentuated the need for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear problem.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon announced at the press conference, “President Bush expects the South-North dialogue will be vital to the peace and prosperity of the Korean peninsula and will also contribute as a valuable channel for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.” OhmyNews reported, however, that the U.S. President did not make any mention of the inter-Korean talks.

Cheong Wa Dae Remains Silent on Document’s Authenticity-

Already having gone through a series of scandals when classified documents on the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces stationed in Korea and confidential records of Information and Policy Monitoring division were leaked out, the Roh Administration has been deeply embarrassed as the highly confidential summit meeting records have been brought to light.

Although stating that there seems to be no need to respond to the report which has scrambled together the same story illegally acquired and reported last November, Kim Man-soo, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman, made no comment on the authenticity of the documents.

Yeon-Wook Jung Jong-Koo Yoon jyw11@donga.com jkmas@donga.com