The President-elect’s policy directions in the areas of national reunification and diplomacy
2007-12-21
It is highly probable that President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s North Korean policy will be closely connected with nuclear issues. In his campaign pledges, Lee emphasized that once Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons program, the South will provide the North with economic assistance to help raise its per-capita income to 3,000 dollars in ten years. Analysts predict the President-elect will make North Korea’s nuclear disarmament a prerequisite to inter-Korean economic cooperation. Accordingly, inter-Korean relations may slow unless the North denounces its nuclear programs.
In his press interview, Lee stressed that his government will open the nuclear-free era of peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying the North can prosper by scrapping its nuclear weapons. His remarks clearly suggest that his North Korean policy will be based on the principle of reciprocity. The President-elect also expressed his intention to help the North establish diplomatic relations with the U. S., as long as the existing frame of international effort to solve nuclear issues through the six-way talks can be maintained. On the other hand, he told reporters he will take necessary measures to address human rights conditions in the North, as well as other important issues. He will try to influence positive change in the North through constructive criticism.
Nevertheless, analysts expect little change in the existing North Korean policy, especially in the field of inter-Korean economic cooperation. Lee’s policy will be based on the principle of give-and-take—that is, giving what we have and receiving what we need.
Next year, we celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance. The two sides evaluate the half-century long alliance very differently. Since the inauguration of the present South Korean government, the two long-time allies have shown some frictions in many issues, including Seoul’s self-reliant diplomacy and military defense, the redeployment of the U.S. forces, the reduction of the American troops stationed in South Korea, and Washington’s emphasis on their strategic flexibility. Speaking of future relations between the historic allies, the President-elect expressed his hope that new a partnership will be formed with the launch of the new government in the South in February next year. Yet he didn’t deny the past five years of bilateral relations, saying there may have been some lack of trust between the two sides.
Though the solution to the North Korean nuclear issue calls for the joint effort of the international community, Lee’s attitude toward that matter might greatly affect Washington’s North Korean policy. The upcoming South Korean government will review Seoul’s overall North Korean policy and try to restore the damaged Korea-U.S. alliance. In this respect, North Korea must be flexible enough to adapt itself to a changing international environment.
Chung Dong-young 
It is highly probable that President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s North Korean policy will be closely connected with nuclear issues. In his campaign pledges, Lee emphasized that once Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons program, the South will provide the North with economic assistance to help raise its per-capita income to 3,000 dollars in ten years. Analysts predict the President-elect will make North Korea’s nuclear disarmament a prerequisite to inter-Korean economic cooperation. Accordingly, inter-Korean relations may slow unless the North denounces its nuclear programs. 
List