ID :
207117
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 14:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207117
The shortlink copeid
(LEAD) Unification minister nominee to study industrial zone in N. Korea
(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with more comments by nominee; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- The nominee to lead South Korea's policy toward North Korea said Wednesday he would study the possibility of building a joint industrial complex with North Korea.
Yu Woo-ik, who was tapped last month to become the unification minister, also said that the North could conduct a nuclear test, though there is no indication of any test.
He made the comment in a parliamentary confirmation hearing seen largely as a formality. The National Assembly does not have the power to block Yu's appointment.
North Korea carried out two underground nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing international condemnation and U.N. sanctions. South Korea's spy chief and other experts also made similar speculation earlier this year.
In recent years, the North has threatened to bolster its nuclear deterrent force in an apparent reference to its nuclear weapons programs.
Yu said he would consider the issue of building a "second Kaesong industrial complex" referring to the joint inter-Korean zone in the North's border city of Kaesong. However, he did not specify whether he meant to expand the current complex in Kaesong or build a separate one in another area.
The two Koreas keep the complex in Kaesong intact despite tensions over North Korea's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
More than 47,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean firms operating in the industrial zone to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other goods. The project serves as a key legitimate cash cow for the impoverished communist country.
The nominee also called on Pyongyang to take responsibility for its two deadly attacks before the two Koreas can put their strained relations back on track.
The North has so far refused to take responsibility for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year and the North's shelling of a South Korean border island in November.
"It's not time to discuss an exit measure," Yu said in the confirmation hearing, though he said he would explore ways to exercise flexibility in dealing with the North.
He also said he would try to secure a dialogue channel with North Korea to make sure that both Koreas would not misunderstand each other. He did not elaborate. Currently, the Koreas maintain a Red Cross channel at the truce village of Panmunjom.
Yu's nomination has raised guarded optimism that Seoul could try to improve relations with Pyongyang amid diplomatic efforts to resume long-stalled talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
North Korea has called for an early resumption of the nuclear talks without any pre-conditions, but Seoul and Washington have demanded the North first take initial steps toward denuclearization before resuming the talks that also involve China, Russia and Japan.
In a sign of lingering tensions, North Korea did not send any response to South Korea's recent offer to deliver the first batch of its emergency aid to North Korea's flood victims on Thursday.
The move prevents Seoul from sending baby food to North Korea across their heavily fortified border on Thursday. South Korea has offered to send 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid, including baby food, biscuits and instant noodles, to North Korea.
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- The nominee to lead South Korea's policy toward North Korea said Wednesday he would study the possibility of building a joint industrial complex with North Korea.
Yu Woo-ik, who was tapped last month to become the unification minister, also said that the North could conduct a nuclear test, though there is no indication of any test.
He made the comment in a parliamentary confirmation hearing seen largely as a formality. The National Assembly does not have the power to block Yu's appointment.
North Korea carried out two underground nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing international condemnation and U.N. sanctions. South Korea's spy chief and other experts also made similar speculation earlier this year.
In recent years, the North has threatened to bolster its nuclear deterrent force in an apparent reference to its nuclear weapons programs.
Yu said he would consider the issue of building a "second Kaesong industrial complex" referring to the joint inter-Korean zone in the North's border city of Kaesong. However, he did not specify whether he meant to expand the current complex in Kaesong or build a separate one in another area.
The two Koreas keep the complex in Kaesong intact despite tensions over North Korea's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
More than 47,000 North Koreans work at about 120 South Korean firms operating in the industrial zone to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other goods. The project serves as a key legitimate cash cow for the impoverished communist country.
The nominee also called on Pyongyang to take responsibility for its two deadly attacks before the two Koreas can put their strained relations back on track.
The North has so far refused to take responsibility for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year and the North's shelling of a South Korean border island in November.
"It's not time to discuss an exit measure," Yu said in the confirmation hearing, though he said he would explore ways to exercise flexibility in dealing with the North.
He also said he would try to secure a dialogue channel with North Korea to make sure that both Koreas would not misunderstand each other. He did not elaborate. Currently, the Koreas maintain a Red Cross channel at the truce village of Panmunjom.
Yu's nomination has raised guarded optimism that Seoul could try to improve relations with Pyongyang amid diplomatic efforts to resume long-stalled talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
North Korea has called for an early resumption of the nuclear talks without any pre-conditions, but Seoul and Washington have demanded the North first take initial steps toward denuclearization before resuming the talks that also involve China, Russia and Japan.
In a sign of lingering tensions, North Korea did not send any response to South Korea's recent offer to deliver the first batch of its emergency aid to North Korea's flood victims on Thursday.
The move prevents Seoul from sending baby food to North Korea across their heavily fortified border on Thursday. South Korea has offered to send 5 billion won (US$4.7 million) worth of emergency relief aid, including baby food, biscuits and instant noodles, to North Korea.
