Kim reveals mixed feelings about summit

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Kim reveals mixed feelings about summit

Former President Kim Dae-jung yesterday recalled with emotion the 2000 North-South summit and defended his sunshine policy, as well as expressing bitterness over inter-Korean relations and domestic affairs since then.
“When I think of that moment, my heart swells up, but I am sad when I look at the current state of things with its problems,” Mr. Kim said in an hour-long interview with the novelist Kim Young-joo that was aired yesterday on the KBS television network.
“The summit alleviated tension on the Korean peninsula, and greatly helped our economy,” Mr. Kim said. “Did we not live in peace in the past three years, and benefit from the sunshine policy?”
When he spoke about the investigation of his closest aides by the independent counsel on whether there was money paid to North Korea for the summit, the 77-year-old former president’s voice trembled. “As then-chief, my heart feels sad.”
Mr. Kim, who looked fit despite his hospitalization in May, introduced new details about the summit.
“To Chairman Kim Jong-il of the North Korean National Defense Commission, I said, ‘North Korea may have nuclear weapons, but they are toys in front of nuclear weapons of the United States. Your only way for survival is rebuilding the economy and maintaining security.’”
Mr. Kim said that former U.S. President Bill Clinton sent him a letter, inviting Kim Jong-il to visit the United States.
“I delivered the message, but Chairman Kim refused,” Mr. Kim said.


by Shin Yong-ho
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