U.S. Urged to Engage North

Some 113 leaders of various sectors of society, led by the Korea Peace Forum, sent an open letter to U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday demanding that the U.S. administration support Seoul's reconciliation policy toward the North and a second inter-Korean summit talks.

Among the signatories were Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, former Roman Catholic archbishop of Seoul, Kang Won-yong, president of the Korea Peace Forum, Song Wol-joo, president-emeritus of the Korean Buddhist Chogye Order, and others from academia, media, the government and civic groups.

The letter said, "We are concerned that recent remarks from leaders in Washington regarding labels used for the North and the stability of its regime may not be helpful in improving inter-Korean relations," which "may lead North Korea to hesitate in approaching the negotiating table with either South Korea or the United States."

The letter also pressed Mr. Bush to strictly adhere to the 1994 Geneva Agreement forged between the North and the United States and to resume negotiations quickly with Pyongyang on North Korean missile sales and testing. It also recommended more active measures to bolster the participation of the North in the international community.

At the same time, it emphasized that the U.S. anti-missile shield "may adversely affect the process of peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula," and called for caution in demanding the reduction in North Korea's conventional military threat.

Four signatories, including Mr. Kang and Mr. Song, discussed the letter as they delivered it to Evans J. Revere, the acting U.S. ambassador, at the embassy building in Seoul Monday afternoon. They did not speak to the press after delivering the letter.

An official at the Korea Peace Forum said, "We have already sent letters to President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell."

He said letters were also sent to 64 other U.S. addressees whom the forum said were influential in the review of the U.S. North Korea policies.

by Lee Young-jong