Cardinal Kim Cautions About North Korea- "Still Too Early" for Reunification, He Says
SEOUL, South Korea, OCT. 26, 2000 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- The South Korean "people still do not have confidence in Kim Jong Il," despite the North Korean president's recent promise to freeze the production of nuclear arms, a cardinal warned.
Cardinal Stephen Kim, archbishop emeritus of Seoul, made his comments in the wake of the Oct. 23-25 visit by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to North Korea, in which Kim Jong Il made his promise about the weapons.
The cardinal spoke with the news agency Fides on the development of relations between the two Koreas.
"From this trip we expect at least peaceful coexistence," said Cardinal Kim, 78. "As regards the reunification of the two Koreas, I think it is still too early. If we increase cooperation, a few years will be necessary. How many? Only God knows."
Because of Albright's trip, and President Clinton's possible visit on Nov. 11, members of nongovernmental organizations in Korea fear an increase of North American influence in the Korean peninsula - so much so that there is talk of a "new and more aggressive U.S. imperialism," he said.
However, according to Cardinal Kim, "If North Korea has good relations with the United States and Japan, this is also an advantage for South Korea.
"The United States certainly pursues its interests in the Korean peninsula, but it is also true that it cannot just influence Pyongyang and Seoul; it cannot determine them. It is up to the respective governments of South and North Korea to take steps for better cooperation between them."
Asked about the influence of Albright's trip on human rights and religious liberty in North Korea, the cardinal said: "I do not think there will be immediate improvement, perhaps in the future, but only gradually.
"North Korea is changing, but only externally. No internal change is visible. To date, all power remains in the hands of the one party. From this point of view, it is all as before." ZE00102604
ZEN - Zenit
26. oktober 2000