Minju Chosun, a publication of the North Korean Cabinet, criticized the Lee Myung Bak administration on the 25th regarding its decision to install Korea University professor Hyun In Taek, drafter of “Vision 3000: Denuclearization and Openness,’ as the next Minister of Unification, “This is a deliberate provocation which demonstrates the South’s continuous confrontational stance towards us.”
Whenever there has been a change of Minister of Unification North Korea has issued vicious criticisms early in their terms in order to tame the new Minister, but a direct expression of grievance before the Minister-designate has even been installed is unprecedented.
It has been proposed that the North, by officially criticizing Hyun in its media, is stressing its intent not to engage in dialogue with the Lee administration, at least temporarily, in addition to the traditional tactics to subdue the Ministry.
Minju Chosun maintained, “This is a criminal act which attempts to strengthen confrontation among families. ‘Vision 3000,’ which was drafted by Hyun, has caused North-South relations, which had been progressing smoothly since June 15th, to freeze to the point where they are no longer manageable.”
The publication threatened, “The Lee administration, by taking this stance, is trying to drive inter-Korea relations into a catastrophic showdown. Due to Hyun’s appointment as Minister of Unification, the state of inter-Korea relations has become unpredictable.”
It also added, regarding President Lee, “In 2009, he has not spoken a word about respecting and implementing the North-South Korea Joint Declaration. By selecting Hyun as the next Minister, [President Lee’s] intent to change the North’s attitude regarding the implementation of the Joint Declaration has been confirmed.”
In July, 2008, Hyun In Taek, Minister-designate to the Ministry of Unification, said, “If North Korea’s disablement and verification progresses smoothly, the Lee administration will implement parts of Vision 3000. Above all, measures to improve North Korean education and standards of living will be undertaken.” He added that, “If North Korea’s intent to denuclearize its nuclear program is clarified by international society, then South Korea can step forwards in the inter-Korea economic cooperation process.”
