South Korean Minister of Unification Ryu Woo Ik told a German newspaper over the weekend that the ‘Leap Day Agreement’ between the United States and the regime of Kim Jong Eun represents “a good signal that the government in the North is willing to move.”
In discussion with Spiegel Online on Saturday, Ryu explained, “North Korea has at least recognized that the nuclear issue has considerable influence on whether or not a common dialogue can advance, and that an appropriate signal is important. Now we will have to see how dependable this announcement really is.”
“It is still too early to conclusively assess” how serious the North is, he added, since North Korea is currently “in a phase of ‘testament politics’ following Kim Jong Il’s death, and foreign policy activities have been cut back a bit.”
Ryu was also quick to emphasize the need for dialogue with Pyongyang, reaffirming the Lee administration’s stance on the issue.
“The issue of nuclear armament and the six-party dialogue over Korea’s future relate to one another like the wheels on a car,” he declared. “If one stands still, then the vehicle doesn’t move forward. All progress in relations in the last 20 years has always happened in parallel with the talks.”
