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Roh warned against risking conflict with North Korea

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has been cautioned against steering closer to the United States and "risking" the possibility of "triggering an unwanted physical clash" with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which had on October 9 announced that it tested a nuclear weapon.

The note of gentle warning, issued in Seoul by a majority of the National Assembly members belonging to the ruling Uri Party, acquires importance because of the perceived new signals from the U.S. to South Korea to take a proactive stand against its ethnic neighbour.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, now elected by the United Nations General Assembly to succeed Kofi Annan as U.N. Secretary-General, had indicated a few days ago that Seoul might consider joining the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

Mr. Ban had clarified, at the same time, that South Korea would take this initiative only if so warranted under any plan of action by the U.N. Security Council to meet the crisis created by the DPRK's declaration about its nuclear test.

Policy review hinted at

The PSI provides for the interceptions and inspections of cargo deemed to be ferried by any mode of transport for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Major powers like China have questioned the validity, under international law, of the PSI norms which go beyond such interceptions.

However, Mr. Roh had, before meeting the Chinese leaders in Beijing on Friday, hinted at the possibility of reviewing South Korea's "sunshine policy" of engaging Pyongyang. Alarmed at such a prospect, a group of ruling party members in the South Korean Assembly, estimated to number 77 out of 140, sounded the warning that coincided with Mr. Roh's visit to Beijing. They asked Seoul not to court a conflict with Pyongyang. Diplomatic sources in Seoul said on Saturday that the Mr. Roh administration, spurred by such dissent, and civil society groups were now exploring ways to restore status quo ante in the inter-Korean relationship.

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