[Editorial] The Costly North Korea Project

In the run-up to the presidential elections, so-called ‘overall pro-government forces’ are pursuing a “North Korea Project” with all their efforts. The Inter-Korean Economic Exchange Cooperation Promotion Delegation led by Rep. Kim Hyeok-gyu under the Uri Party’s Northeast Asia Peace Committee will meet with Kim Yong Nam, the chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea, to discuss ways to expand the economic exchanges between the two Koreas. They will talk over giant projects such as the construction of a giant canal between Gaesong and Seoul, the creation of a heavy industry complex in Haeju, and the making of a new special economic zone in the Yellow Sea. With what right and with what authority are those who are unrelated to the government pursuing these ventures, which will impose a tremendous burden on the next administration and people?

Kim argues, “These projects are being considered to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue with the momentum of the Beijing agreement announced on February 13, and to bring permanent peace on the Korean peninsula.” We might accept what he says literally, but the history between South and North Korea clearly shows that such dealings with the North do not help improve the South-North relationship and have not brought eternal peace to the peninsula.

Moreover, the relationship is under the influence of the law. The “Law on the Development of the Inter-Korean Relationship” stipulates the promotion of peace on the Korean peninsula, the creation of the inter-Korean economic community, the recovery of Korean ethnic identity, and the necessity of aid to the North, but at the same time, it says, “Without resorting to the law, no one can negotiate or meet with North Korea on behalf of the government.” Who granted Kim and his delegation the right to represent the government? The Uri Party is no longer representative of a ruling party.

Such moves might be understandable if the inter-Korean government discussion channels were blocked. Yet, at this moment the inter-Korean ministerial talks, the inter-Korean economic cooperation promotion committee, and Red Cross talks are underway. Even today, the inter-Korean talks for the cooperation in light industry and underground resources are held in Gaesong. Though delayed by the Banco Delta Asia issue, the nations participating in the six-party talks have had official and unofficial contacts. Against this backdrop, it cannot be tolerated that a party destined to be dissolved is taking on giant North Korea projects.

How the government allowed them to visit North Korea raises a question. Kim Jong-ryul, a lawmaker participating in the delegation, said, “We shared the view on the agenda and the viability of it with the related ministries. If that’s true, this is an act revealing that this administration is against the public’s opinion. Among the projects that the delegation announced it would discuss with the North, the highway between Pyongyang and Gaesong and the construction of a highway between Pyongyang and Haeju will cost at least 1 trillion won. It is impossible to count how much taxpayer money will be needed when you count the rest of the projects.”

This administration even legislated the “Law on the Development of the Inter-Korean Relationship” to increase the transparency of the policies on North Korea after the scandals over secret remittances to the North during Kim Dae-jung’s presidency. If this incumbent government approved tacitly or abetted the ruling party’s North Korea project, it deserves the criticism that this project is a scheme against the people for the presidential elections. The administration also strongly advocated one of President Roh Moo-hyun’s men, Ahn Hee-jeong, make secret contact with the North, and it lost 3.6 billion won in contract fees when it signed a contract with the North providing crude oil to North Korea before the Beijing agreement came into effect.

The Board of Audit and Inspection recently decided not to audit the inter-Korean cooperation fund, saying, “[The North Korea project is] a highly political act,” which raises doubts as well. Unless all these moves are “projects for the presidential elections,” they cannot be explained.

Various doubts are being raised over former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s visit to the North and the United States. Some suggest that they are trying to make a change in the presidential elections by pursuing inter-Korea summit talks and four-nation talks with North Korea, the U.S. and China. The North Korea projects suggested by the “overall pro-government force” seem to make this argument plausible.