Summit's sunny side impresses analysts
South Korean government officials were visibly relaxed after Wednesday's summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and U.S. President George W. Bush, while analysts warned against premature optimism.The continued South Korean support for the U.S. fight against terrorism, the commitment to a firm South Korea-U.S. alliance, and the agreement to address through dialogue the issue of weapons of mass destruction were cited as fruits of the summit by South Korean government officials. The officials also found relief in Mr. Bush's reiteration of his support for the sunshine policy and of U.S. openness to unconditional dialogue with North Korea.
Mr. Bush's assurance that the United States has no intention to invade North Korea appeased the Korean people's anxiety that U.S. fight against terrorism might lead to North Korea.
"The summit has provided an opportunity to ease the instability of the Korean Peninsula, the affairs of which have been in flux," said a Blue House official on condition of anonymity.
However, analysts refused to see only the sunny side of the summit.
"In the future, the Korean Peninsula will find it hard to escape the trappings of Mr. Bush's dichotomous world view of good versus evil, where one is either a friend or a foe," said Dong Yong-seung, a North Korea specialist at Samsung Economic Research Institute. Mr. Dong warned that Mr. Bush's unilateral style of diplomacy may affect the Korean Peninsula.
Analysts believe that Mr. Bush's indefatigable distrust of the North, as illustrated by his remarks at Dorasan Station, will hinder early normalization of bilateral relations between Washington and Pyeongyang. Mr. Bush urged the North to unite with the free South, saying, "No nation should be a prison for its own people."
by Oh Young-hwan
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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