[imText1]President Roh remained silent about the North Korean missiles for days after the launching. As if he noticed the criticisms from the media, on the 11th he criticized comments by Japanese politicians of the possibility of preemptive strikes, saying that “this is a situation where we cannot yield”.
Faced with criticisms from the media about its’ delayed response, the government has been adamant that “it is not desirable for the President to hold meetings or submit serious responses at the break of dawn. Such reports have neither nationality nor national interest at heart”.
The gpvernment has remained silent about the launching of the missiles. On the 9th, the government poured out extremely unrefined comments, inappropriate by the standard of diplomacy, stating, “Did the launching of the missiles really cause a risk at a level of national security? There is no reason to make such a fuss about this like Japan”.
North Korea launched the missiles without any warning, through the skies of the East Sea where passenger planes were traveling, when everyone was asleep. The government interprets such behavior as “high-level political actions taken in order to put pressure on nuclear negotiations”, according to their own theory. It seems contrary to the reaction to statements made by Japanese politicians where an actual preemptive strike is close to impossible, yet the Japanese government says it is “a revival of militarism”.
At a meeting to inspect the state of affairs led by Lee Byung Wan, Director of Secretaries at the Blue House, the intentions for illiciting a strong response against Japan was expressed in the statement, “Considering that Japan has used the excuse of self-defense in order to justify invasions in the past, Japanese reactions to North Korea must be cautiously considered, as we are aware of Japanese tendencies”.
Chung Tae Ho, spokesman for Blue House also warned, “we will respond forcefully to the misstatements made by Japanese politicians looking to increase instability on the Korean peninsula and use it as an excuse to strengthen its military.”
On the surface, it is possible to think that the cause of the missile development lies with Japan. It is also possible to assume that the government is trying to turn the attention of South Korean people to Japan. Tensions exist in regard to the issue of Dokdo, the perceived delayed response by the South to North Korean missiles, and mistrust of the people toward the national security.
Accordingly, it is a rightful concern that the relationship between South Korea and Japan might irreverably turn sour after mild conflicts regarding the issue of Dokdo and distortion of history.
Also, the Korean government has taken a stance in accordance with China and Russia in opposition to Japan and the US; Japan and the US support strong sanctions against the North through the Resolution On Sanctions on North Korea after the launch of the missiles. This matter will effect not only the SK-Japan relationship, but also the SK-US relationship.
Such consequence derives from an error in application of the Sunshine Policy for the past 8 years, since the Kim Dae Joong administration, which is based on reconciliation and cooperation.
The policy to North Korea has been an expression of one-sided love from South Korea. Former President Kim Dae Joong and President Roh, who continues to support the Sunshine Policy, confessed on the 11th, “I cannot understand the reason for the launching of the missiles, no matter how hard I try”, clearly illustrating that DJ and President Roh have misunderstood North Korea all this time.
At the dinner after the North-South Ministerial Meeting on the 11th, Kwon Ho Woong, the representative of the North, said “Let us adhere to 6.15 without going astray no matter how the situation and environment change around us”. North Korea is right on the Achilles Heel of supporters of the Sunshine Policy, who are deep in the swamp of ethnic unity.
