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| President Roh Moo-hyun??s planned attendance at North Korea??s controversial Arirang performance during his visit to the North??s capital Pyongyang.
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President Roh??s decision to watch the Arirang performance while visiting Pyongyang for summit talks early next month has been made after serious consideration to build mutual trust between the two Koreas. Cheong Wa Dae officials offered three different reasons for the decision. First, the South positively considered Pyongyang??s proposal as it came out of good intention to treat the South Korean leader. Second, Roh??s presence at the performance means the two sides will admit each other??s system. Finally, the South will approach the matter in a practical manner. In other words, Roh??s decision is expected to lay a foundation for the promotion of inter-Korean confidence.
To understand the government??s decision, we need to call back on our past history. In 1948, two governments with different systems and ideologies were established on the Korean Peninsula: a free democratic government in the South and a Communist regime in the North. Two years later, the tragic war broke out and after three years?? bloody battle, the two sides singed an armistice agreement in 1953, which still holds. Even today, the two Koreas are technically at war.
Against such a backdrop, national reunification has been our long-cherished dream. Compared with the nation??s long history as a unified nation, the period of territorial division is nothing but a moment. But the two sides are duty bound to end their antagonism which has lasted for more than half a century by restoring their national identity through mutual understanding, reconciliation, exchanges and cooperation. It is the only way for us to achieve peaceful reunification based on the principle of co-existence and co-prosperity.
At this moment, the forthcoming inter-Korean summit talks are all the more important. Only when the two leaders build up the atmosphere of reconciliation and cooperation based on mutual confidence can the door to national reunification be wide open. Announcing the decision, Cheong Wa Dae emphasized that it had been made in a broader context. It is also desirable for the success of the historic summit talks. South Korea??s national power and its people??s awareness are mature enough to accept the Arirang performance. We have no reason to avoid or turn around from the performance. Rather, we need to join it so as to realize Pyongyang??s real intentions.
Seoul??s daring attempt deserves to be greeted by Pyongyang??s deletion or revision of the extreme propaganda for its system or some delicate parts against the South in the performance. If the North insists on arbitrary propaganda and ideological attack, the South??s good intentions will be seriously impaired. Pyongyang should keep this in mind. It is our sincere hope that President Roh??s presence at the Arirang performance will be a timely occasion to accelerate the process of inter-Korean reconciliation, exchanges and cooperation.
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WATCH / LISTEN
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Two Korean Summits Sign Joint Declaration(2007.10.04)
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Headline
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Inter-Korea
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