N. Korea not ready to embrace reform, openness: FM
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and its political system appear to be underprepared to embrace reform and openness, South Korea's foreign minister said Sunday, amid speculation as to whether Pyongyang will follow in China's footsteps after leader Kim Jong-il's trip to the neighboring nation.
"If North Korea is going to reform and open up, its (political) system should also be ready for reform and openness, but I think it appears that they are not prepared yet," Seoul's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said on KBS Television. "Even if the leader wants reform and openness, it will be difficult unless the underlying system is ready to accept them." The North's leader visited China from May 20-26, his third trip to the neighboring ally and main provider of aid in about a year. China's Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing invited Kim so that he could share China's economic development experience with him.
Seoul's Foreign Minister Kim said that the North Korean leader's trip to China has positive sides because it provides the reclusive leader with more chances to see and learn about China's economic rise. Inter-Korean relations can move forward when the communist North carries out reform and opens up to the outside world, he said.
On tensions between the two Koreas, the minister criticized the North for trying to talk only to the U.S. about security issues while considering the South as a counterpart for economic matters. Pyongyang should be open to discussing all issues with South Korea, he said.
"Inter-Korean relations can move forward dramatically if North Korea resolves all problems through dialogue with our government and then move on to the next stage," Kim said.
Last week, North Korea released an American citizen detained in the communist nation for six months. The release came as U.S. human rights envoy Robert King was visiting the North to assess the food situation there ahead of a possible resumption of aid.
Kim said the release is the North's "conci! liatory gesture" toward the U.S. (Yonhap)
"If North Korea is going to reform and open up, its (political) system should also be ready for reform and openness, but I think it appears that they are not prepared yet," Seoul's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said on KBS Television. "Even if the leader wants reform and openness, it will be difficult unless the underlying system is ready to accept them." The North's leader visited China from May 20-26, his third trip to the neighboring ally and main provider of aid in about a year. China's Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing invited Kim so that he could share China's economic development experience with him.
Seoul's Foreign Minister Kim said that the North Korean leader's trip to China has positive sides because it provides the reclusive leader with more chances to see and learn about China's economic rise. Inter-Korean relations can move forward when the communist North carries out reform and opens up to the outside world, he said.
On tensions between the two Koreas, the minister criticized the North for trying to talk only to the U.S. about security issues while considering the South as a counterpart for economic matters. Pyongyang should be open to discussing all issues with South Korea, he said.
"Inter-Korean relations can move forward dramatically if North Korea resolves all problems through dialogue with our government and then move on to the next stage," Kim said.
Last week, North Korea released an American citizen detained in the communist nation for six months. The release came as U.S. human rights envoy Robert King was visiting the North to assess the food situation there ahead of a possible resumption of aid.
Kim said the release is the North's "conci! liatory gesture" toward the U.S. (Yonhap)
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