EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on May 20

Anniversary of sanctions Nearly a year has passed since Seoul severed almost all inter-Korean economic exchanges to punish Pyongyang???s naval provocations. Two developments deserve attention upon the anniversary of sanctions, which completely froze the already chilly relationship between the Koreas. The U.S. State Department confirmed Wednesday it is considering sending President Obama???s envoy on human rights in North Korea to Pyongyang to assess the North???s food crisis firsthand. On the same day, Cheong Wa Dae said Seoul explained its ``genuine intention??? behind President Lee Myung-bak???s invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, at an inter-Korean working-group officials meeting recently. Coming straight to the point, Washington???s move seems much more reasonable at this stage, and Seoul???s approach, while seemingly aimed at far bigger goals, is all but impracticable. President Lee???s offer to Kim, made during his visit to Berlin last week, have two strings attached: commitment to denuclearization and apology for attacks on a South Korean warship and island last year. There is nothing new, at least from the standpoint of Pyongyang. This is not to say the North is right, but when it comes to the proposal???s practicability, whether it is different from the previous ones should matter more than anything else. Lee???s proposal would have been a little more plausible, had he not added a few days later that Kim Jong-il and his coteries should not rule out the North???s own version of the ``Jasmine Revolution.??? The harder the South pressurizes the North and hints at the possibility of ``unification through absorption,??? the more desperately Pyongyang would stick to its nuclear arsenal. It defies our understanding how such a simple and clear conclusion has been able to avoid Lee and his national security team for so long. A greater problem is the Lee administration???s hard-line policy has not served its purpose very well in any substantive terms. Since the May 24, 2010 sanctions went into effect, inter-Korean trade plunged 54 percent to $118 million, and original equipment manufacturing deal, which once amounted to $317 million, has tapered off to almost nil. On the contrary, the North???s mineral exports to China rocketed 17 times, from $50 million to $860 million. North Korea of course suffered considerable damage, as the yearlong measure cut off a cash infusion of $300 million, a huge amount for Pyongyang under a perennial financial pinch. The trade statistics shows, however, Seoul cannot suffocate Pyongyang to death, as long as Beijing is ready to serve as a ventilator. U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stevens told retired journalists Wednesday Washington is ready to meet one-on-one with Pyongyang but would wait until inter-Korean relationships improve. Diplomatic niceties aside, it is apparent to any objective watcher???s eyes that Washington is virtually urging Seoul to change its stance, in increasing frequency. It has long become clear President Lee???s North Korea policy was aimed at making Pyongyang kneel down in both multilateral and bilateral issues. It can satisfy his conservative support base but go nowhere except swelling the North???s nuclear arsenal. Some of Lee???s predecessors endured Kim???s arrogance and impudence for something more important. If the President regards this as a coward???s tactic to remain in power, it???s up to him. But history would judge who were right and time is not on President Lee???s side.