No Linkage Seen in Aid to North, Nuclear Issue

Unification Minister Lim Dong-won said Thursday that the South Korean government has no intention to link the provision of electricity to North Korea to outstanding issues between the North and the United States such as nuclear weapons and missile proliferation.

Speaking to reporters in conjunction with the first anniversary of the June 15 summit between President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il last year, Mr. Lim said that while the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations and other figures outside the American government argue that the provision of electricity should be linked to North Korea's willingness to abandon its nuclear weapons and missile development programs, that is not the intention of the United States government.

The former head of South Korea's intelligence agency added that there had been positive developments in relations between North and South Korea lately. He cited the resumption of talks between the North and the United States, the agreement to rejuvenate the Mount Kumgang tourism project and the completion of Seoul's provision of fertilizers to the North.

"Hyundai is trying to form a consortium now that the profitability of the Mount Kumgang tourism project is guaranteed," said Mr. Lim. "Once the consortium is formed, it will garner the financial support necessary to continue the project."

by Lee Chul-hee