Saenuri offers olive branch to NK

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 07:52

Saenuri offers olive branch to NK

Posted : 2014-08-07 21:03

Updated : 2014-08-07 21:03

Ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung, second from left, speaks during a meeting with senior party members in the National Assembly, Thursday. / Yonhap

By Shim Jae-yun

In an apparent turnaround from its tough stance on North Korea, the ruling Saenuri Party Thursday called for more reconciliatory measures to be made toward the reclusive nation.

It suggested there should be more assistance for the North Korean athletes and cheerleading team set to attend the forthcoming Incheon Asian Games. It also cited the need to ease the "May 24" measures imposed upon the North as a package of sanctions.

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the governing party, said, "Given that we are brethren and for the sake of inter-Korean relations, it is better for us to have more determination and play a leading role in dealing with North Korea.

"Traditionally, we have extended cordial hospitality to guests. We need to stop being stingy."

He called on the government and the Asian Games organizing committee to exert more efforts to help the North Korean delegation. He earlier noted that the North's participation should be utilized as a good opportunity to improve the strained inter-Korean relations.

Kim's statement drew attention as it came just before President Park Geun-hye presided over a meeting of the preparatory committee for national unification at Cheong Wa Dae. Park underlined the need for reunification.

Officials from South and North Korea met on July 17 at the border village of Panmunjeom to discuss details of the North's plan to send its delegation to the Asian Games. Both sides failed to reach agreement and there has been little progress since then.

Rep. Rhee In-je, a member of the party's supreme council, echoed Kim's view by saying, "It is important for the government to pave the way for the North Korean delegation to participate in the Asian Games by taking an initiating role."

He suggested that Seoul should provide flights and accommodation for the athletes and cheerleading team with funds from the inter-Korean cooperative fund.

"We need to make the most of the upcoming Asian Games as a precious opportunity to improve relations between the South and North.

"Now we should ease the May 24 measures from a more proactive perspective. It is difficult to understand why the measures are still available these days though they were introduced in response to the North Korean provocation temporarily," he said.

The former President Lee Myung-bak administration implemented the May 24 steps following North Korea's fatal shooting of a female tourist at Mount Geumgang.

jayshim@ktimes.co.kr