[imText1]It was revealed that the Ministry of Unification acknowledged through the work report to the presidential transition team, that the engagement policy on North Korea for the past five years did not bring the reform and opening of North Korea.
Lee Dong Kwan, the spokesperson of the presidential transition team said in the briefing that regarding the policy toward North Korea for the past 5 years, “The Ministry of Unification acknowledges that North Korea’s reform and opening up was not visible enough for the international community and the citizens to experience and the policy towards North Korea had insufficient results.”
Furthermore, spokesperson Lee added that, “A base for peace on the peninsula was prepared but there was a lot of perceptions that we were dragged by the North. The proceedings with regards to peace and security were not satisfying either.”
On this day, during the Ministry of Unification work report held at the Kyungnam University the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, the presidential transition team requested to the Ministry of Unification to follow through with the economic cooperation according to the proceedings of the North Korean nuclear issue.
The team also claimed that it will maintain the humanitarian aid to the North but regarding SOC construction or, the establishment of the special peace and cooperation zone in the West Sea and cooperative complexes for shipbuilding will be re-evaluated after investigations on the actual location and re-analysis until February.
However, the team first decided to allow the resource development negotiations for the base of the commercial industry and the passage, communication and customs clearance procedures related to the Kaesung Industrial Complex and the Mt. Baekdu tourist business preparations.
Regarding such requests of the presidential transition team, it is analyzed that the economic cooperation projects needed with a phenomenal budget need to be put on hold until there is a solution for the declaration of the North Korean nuclear programs.
Spokesperson Lee claimed that “If North Korea gives up its nukes, an economic cooperation as large scale and raising international fund of $40 Billion USD will be possible”.
Regarding the problems of the kidnapped people to North Korea and the POWs, the Ministry of Unification pledged that it will work more clearly towards a solution than other political issues.
