YONHAP NEWS

N. Korea blames S. Korea for no progress in bilateral ties

SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Yonhap) -- Seoul has snubbed Pyongyang's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, a North Korean state newspaper claimed in a commentary Saturday.

   Criticism of the South Korean government by the North is not new but the latest attack was unusual in that the condemnation was leveled squarely at Unification Minister Hyun In-taek, naming Seoul's point man on Pyongyang directly.

   "Due to our efforts to address the abnormal situation in North-South relations, a condition has been created to develop North-South ties to meet the demands of the contemporary era," the Rodong Sinmun, the North's major newspaper published by the Workers' Party, said.
In particular, the North has offered a series of peace overtures either formally or unofficially toward the capitalist neighbor in recent months, it claimed.

   But South Korea's "anti-reunification, conservative forces" including Hyun are ignoring North Korea's active efforts, it added.

   The newspaper said progress in inter-Korean ties is "unthinkable as long as confrontational groups such as Hyun In-taek and the unification ministry exist."

   It is the first time that the North's media has released criticism using Hyun's name since a delegation of high-ranking North Korean officials met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in August during its trip to Seoul to attend the funeral of former president Kim Dae-jung. North Korea also freed a South Korean worker who had been detained there for months.

   The Rodong Shinmun said despite Pyongyang's good-will gestures, Hyun's ministry is opposing inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation.

   It singled out preconditions set by the ministry for the resumption of the tourism business to Mount Kumgang along the North's east coast that has been suspended since the shooting death of a South Korean housewife visiting there by a North Korean soldier last year.

   The ministry has called for the North to make a sincere apology, allow joint investigation into the case, and guarantee the safety of tourists for the resumption of the tourism project, a cash cow for the impoverished communist regime.

   The North delivered its desire for talks with the South on ways to restart the joint business to Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun who visited Mount Kumgang earlier this week, the conglomerate said.

   South Korean unification ministry officials were cautious, saying they do not view it as a formal offer by Pyongyang for talks.

   The Mount Kumgang tour opened in 1998 under an agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, who was born in North Korea.

  (END)