Kim Young-sam Criticizes President on Summit Talks

President Kim Dae-jung met with former president Kim Young-sam for an hour and 40 minutes at a Chong Wa Dae luncheon on June 19 to discuss the outcome of the South-North summit talks.

YS began the meeting on a light note, "40,000 people came to my invitation-only lecture at Harbin University in China."

To which DJ jokingly replied, "You should run as a candidate there."

However, when the conversation turned to the issue of the summit talks, YS criticised the president on his stance on North Korea.

Following are portions of the dialogue, as reported by Kim Young-sam's aide, Park Jong-wung.

YS: Kim Jong-il is a dictator who is behind the west sea and east sea incidents, as well as Choi Eun-hee's abduction case, and you have advertised him to the world as an open-minded person.

DJ: (silence)

* * *

YS: The South-North talks are important, but communicating domestically and getting the assent of the National Assembly is of more consequence. The South-North problems should be approached from a national viewpoint, not from a political one. I've heard that a North Korean flag was raised in Kyungbuk National University. You have given the people fantasies about unification. I believe President Kim is simply excited.

DJ: I also believe that an atmosphere of over-excitement is undesirable. We need to act with prudence and patience.

* * *

YS: Chairman Kim is continuously going to try to get things from South Korea throughout President Kim's term. There is a problem in continuously giving. Over a period of time, we may lose both the cause and the benefits. Chairman Kim's Seoul visit is impossible. It would be possible only on the grounds of popular support and also by taking national security into consideration.

DJ: We are not just giving. The aim is to attain mutual properity. Chairman Kim has promised a state visit. Seeing from the results of a press survey, over 85 percent of the people were in favor of the Chairman's visit.

by Park Seung-hee