ID :
204315
Tue, 08/30/2011 - 08:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/204315
The shortlink copeid
Ruling party chief says trans-Korean gas pipeline to open new chapter
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the ruling Grand National Party said Tuesday that a proposal for the construction of a gas pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas through the Korean Peninsula has the potential to unite the two Koreas behind a single project at a time of flaring tensions.
Rep. Hong Joon-pyo made the remarks after Russia and North Korea last week made progress on a Russian proposal to ship large amounts of Siberian natural gas to the South via a pipeline to be built across the North.
As Seoul had already made a bilateral agreement with the Kremlin over the project, Hong expressed hope that a trilateral process would push forward the lucrative energy project, which would bring Asia's fourth-largest economy cheaper imports of gas.
"If working-level officials of the three nations make an agreement, the trans-Korean gas pipeline project could start," Hong said in a forum held in the western port city of Incheon. "The project would open a new chapter for inter-Korean relations."
If realized, the key project could help ease tensions on the peninsula and bring much-needed hard currency to North Korea. But analysts question whether the pipeline would be feasible considering the questionable trustworthiness of the communist regime. Many in the South feel there is a major risk of Pyongyang stopping the gas pipeline or siphoning off gas if relations become difficult.
In light of the progress in inter-Korean business cooperation, Hong said the conservative party should ease its hard-line policy on the North ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
"The GNP has been accused of being an anti-unification, warmonger group. But time has come for the party to change direction (toward North Korea)," Hong said. "The party will also look into the problems in the Kaesong Industrial Complex to find ways to revitalize it."
Despite frequent cross-border tensions between the two Koreas, the joint industrial park in the North Korean border city has been in operation since 2004 without any major interruptions.
Seoul's Unification Ministry said Tuesday that this year's first-half output at the Kaesong complex rose 20.2 percent year-on-year to US$192 million.
But a recent survey showed that a considerable number of South Korean companies are not satisfied with working conditions at the complex due to heightened cross-border tensions due to the North's military provocations and nuclear programs.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the ruling Grand National Party said Tuesday that a proposal for the construction of a gas pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas through the Korean Peninsula has the potential to unite the two Koreas behind a single project at a time of flaring tensions.
Rep. Hong Joon-pyo made the remarks after Russia and North Korea last week made progress on a Russian proposal to ship large amounts of Siberian natural gas to the South via a pipeline to be built across the North.
As Seoul had already made a bilateral agreement with the Kremlin over the project, Hong expressed hope that a trilateral process would push forward the lucrative energy project, which would bring Asia's fourth-largest economy cheaper imports of gas.
"If working-level officials of the three nations make an agreement, the trans-Korean gas pipeline project could start," Hong said in a forum held in the western port city of Incheon. "The project would open a new chapter for inter-Korean relations."
If realized, the key project could help ease tensions on the peninsula and bring much-needed hard currency to North Korea. But analysts question whether the pipeline would be feasible considering the questionable trustworthiness of the communist regime. Many in the South feel there is a major risk of Pyongyang stopping the gas pipeline or siphoning off gas if relations become difficult.
In light of the progress in inter-Korean business cooperation, Hong said the conservative party should ease its hard-line policy on the North ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
"The GNP has been accused of being an anti-unification, warmonger group. But time has come for the party to change direction (toward North Korea)," Hong said. "The party will also look into the problems in the Kaesong Industrial Complex to find ways to revitalize it."
Despite frequent cross-border tensions between the two Koreas, the joint industrial park in the North Korean border city has been in operation since 2004 without any major interruptions.
Seoul's Unification Ministry said Tuesday that this year's first-half output at the Kaesong complex rose 20.2 percent year-on-year to US$192 million.
But a recent survey showed that a considerable number of South Korean companies are not satisfied with working conditions at the complex due to heightened cross-border tensions due to the North's military provocations and nuclear programs.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
