Opposition Blasts Aid to North

"The Kim Dae-jung administration has given North Korea more than 1 trillion won ($880 million)," said Kwon Chul-hyun, a spokesman for the Grand National Party, criticizing the aid levels.

"According to Ministry of Unification data, the aid can be broken down into a government share of $460 million, $370 million from the civilian sector and $52 million spent on cultural exchanges and cooperation," Mr. Kwon said. "That's already three times more than the $284 million in aid given by Kim Young-sam's administration."

"But the president said on a TV talk show that aid to North Korea totals a mere $219 million," the legislator said. "He tried to gloss over the fact that the government is pouring money into North Korea, despite a lack of public support for sending so much aid."

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party and the Ministry of Unification responded, "The Grand National Party included the $204 million spent on the construction of two light water nuclear reactors in the North, as well as some money for food aid. North Korea is supposed to pay back that money eventually."