Posted on 02/14/2003 3:21:15 AM PST by HAL9000
SEOUL, Feb 14 (AFP) - South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung on Friday apologized for the controversial secret transfer of 200 million dollars to North Korea, but denied the money had served as a bribe to secure the Pyongyang summit three years ago.
"The recent controversy over Hyundai Merchant Marine sending money to the North has caused great concern among the people," Kim said in a speech televised live across the country.
"I feel very sorry about this. I will take all responsiblity for this situation. But I humbly ask you to understand that this was done in the interest of peace and national interest," Kim said.
The money transfer was made secretly without official approval by the unification ministry and was technically in breach of South Korea's draconian National Security Law which still designates the North a "traitor regime."
Kim said the transfer had to be kept secret because of the closed nature of the North's communist regime and the "duality" of inter-Korean relations.
Lim Dong-Won, special advisor to the president for security and foreign affairs, admitted that South Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, helped Hyundai to transfer the 200 million dollars to the North.
He denied, however, allegations that the money, which was sent just prior to the 2000 summit between Kim and the North's leader Kim Jong-Il, was intended as a bribe to the impoverished North to secure the talks.
The 200 million dollars was part of 500 million dollars that the Hyundai Group had agreed to pay to the North in return for rights to a wide range of projects, including a 30-year right to develop the North's infrastructure.
Hyundai obtained rights to engage in business in the North in seven projects, including railways, electricity, communication, tourism and the construction of an industrial zone in Kaesong.
"The government concluded that this would greatly contribute to peace and national interest and thus allowed it despite legal problems," the president said.
However he admitted that his government enlisted the assistance of Hyundai, which had extensive contacts with North Korea, in arranging the inter-Korean summit which helped him receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
The opposition Grand National Party (GNP), which claims Hyundai acted as a conduit for the bribe, rejected Kim's apology and repeated its call for a special prosecutor's independent investigation.
"It leaves more questions than answers now. The press conference convinced the people of the necessity for the probe by a special prosecutor," GNP's General Secretary Lee Young-Il said.
Kim, however, defended his Sunshine policy of seeking reconciliation and exchange with the communist neighbor, which he said had led to tension reduction.
Foreign investment in South Korea during his five-year term amounted to two and half times the total of the past 50 years.
The two Koreas on Friday opened their border for the first time in 50 years to civilians to allow them to embark on a landmark overland tour to the scenic Mount Kumgang in the North's eastern coast.
"North Korea began to introduce a market economy, and the North Koreans' view of South Koreans is slowly changing from that of hostility and resentment to understanding and feeling of identity," the president said.
Kim Dae-Jung will be succeeded on February 25 by president-elect Roh Moo-Hyun, who vowed to continue with this North Korean policy.
After taking office, Roh will meet with President George W. Bush in Washington to find out a "reasonable" way out of the stand-off over the North's suspect nuclear weapons programme, Roh said.
The next "peace" prize will probably be awarded jointly to the two weasel-weinies, Whacko-Jacko Chirac and Richard Gere-hardt Schroder.
Leni
I am sure that liberal newspapers in S. Korea will come out with the newest opinion survey, which will show that a majority of S. Koreans want to "move on", now that he "fessed up". Many people even lie to opinion surveys because the surveyors call them or meet them. The surveyors would know their identities. This gives people anxieties. I think there is at least 5-10% bias in such a survey.
I have to put up with another round of the disgusting media blitz. I am not even old. But I feel that I lived enough. Well, if there is a shooting war, at least I want to see enough of these people blown up into pieces before I am. Yes, it is handy not to be a believer in any religion. There are some people I cannot forgive.:)
Leni
enough is enough......wallow in your own....Sh@t
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