Regarding North Korea’s delegation coming tomorrow to offer its condolences at the memorial to former President Kim Dae Jung, Lee Hoi Chang, the leader of the Liberty Forward Party wonders, “Shouldn’t Kim Jong Il himself come here?”
In a Peace Broadcasting Company radio program on Thursday, Lee pointed out that, after all, “The one who helped Kim Jong Il the most is former President Kim Dae Jung.”
“He promised former President Kim that he would pay a visit to South Korea at the Summit, so if he is an audacious leader he should appear at the funeral service,” Lee continued.
He evaluated former President Kim’s achievements, “It was valuable that he paved the way for the Inter-Korean Summit, but the Sunshine Policy was unhelpful. He started inter-Korean relations the wrong way at a really decisive time.”
He went on, “North Korea developed nuclear weapons for ten years under the Kim Dae Jung and Roh Moo Hyun administrations, and now it has produced ballistic missiles and wants to declare itself a nuclear power. This situation was created by the wrong direction of his North Korea policies.”
He added, “The Lee Myung Bak administration is presently facing a critical moment in the formation of a new inter-Korean relations structure, breaking out of the old ways.”
Regarding the possibility of the delegation improving relations, he predicted, “I hope inter-Korean relations improve upon this opportunity, but based upon the past, the North’s authorities will try to separate ‘MB’ from ‘DJ.’”
He claimed, “North Korea is adopting the tactic of communicating with the U.S. while isolating the South.” Regarding the delegation, the important thing is whether or not they sincerely want to open a new chapter in inter-Korean relations.”
He emphasized, “The Lee administration should maintain the principles it has started with.”
