President Lee Myung Bak has announced that he is happy to provide North Korea with development aid to help them become independent, but not resources that might be used for military purposes.
In interviews during his current European tour, as well as in meetings with heads of states, the President has consistently sent out the same message to Pyongyang; renounce nuclear weapons and embrace economic opening and reform.
For example, President Lee spoke to a conference of overseas Koreans in Stockholm. In the conference, he claimed, “Giving food and fertilizer will not guarantee a good relationship between North and South.” He added, however, “If the North were to renounce its nuclear program, we could provide it with the basic infrastructure and corporate investment to spur development to a high level.”
In particular, by asserting that aid during the last 10 years was used to develop military hardware, he strongly clarified that he is against the supply of dollars in exchange for economic cooperation.
Furthermore, President Lee told the conference of his belief in the limits of humanitarian aid, “An isolated country like the North, receiving only food aid, and because it requires aid every year, always has problems, for which the North has been compensated every time. This cycle has denied North Korea the need to develop itself.”
In particular, “North Korean residents are suffering terribly as they try to escape the North and move from country to country. Being from the same people, I am disheartened.” He reminded the audience, “The only country that cares for the North Korean people and wishes for their independence is South Korea.”
“If North Korea renounces weapons of mass destructions, I want to help them to improve relations with the international community, trade with other countries, as well as with agriculture,” he said, “Also I will spur economic development through scientific and technological exchanges.” Finally, he asserted, “I believe that North Korea will stand up faster than any other country. Now it is for them to make that decision.”
“I wanted to bring up the food problem in North Korea at the G8 but was afraid someone would say ‘how can people be starving in a country that makes nuclear weapons and missiles?’”
