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북한은 28일 남한의 당국자들이 기업인들과 함께 방북해 개성공단 정상화 관련 협의를 할 의사를 표시했으나 통일부는 당국간 실무회담이 우선이라는 입장을 견지했다.
북한의 대남기구인 조국평화통일위원회는 대변인 담화에서 “우리는 공업지구 기업가들의 방문을 이미 승인한 상태이며 그들이 들어오면 제품반출 문제를 포함하여 공업지구 정상화와 관련한 어떠한 협의도 진행할 것”이라고 말했다.
담화는 특히 “남조선 당국은 신변안전과 같은 공연한 걱정은 하지 않아도 된다”며 “그래도 안심이 되지 않으면 개성공업지구관리위원회 성원들을 함께 들여보내면 될 것”이라고 밝혔다.
이는 남측이 우려하는 기업인들의 신변을 이유로 내세우긴 했지만 공단관리위원회 관계자들의 동행 방북도 사실상 허용, 개성공단 정상화를 위한 좀 더 적극적인 움직임을 보인 것으로 해석된다.
관리위의 상당수는 남측의 관련 부처 공무원과 퇴직 공무원으로 구성되어 있다.
조평통은 “공업지구 사업이 재개되고 정상화되면 원자재와 제품 반출문제는 애당초 제기되지도 않을 것이며 이것은 회담으로 풀 문제도 아니다”라며 “실무회담만을 되풀이하며 생떼를 쓰는 것은 문제 해결에 장애를 조성하면서 현 중단사태를 장기화해 개성공업지구 설비와 자재를 다 못쓰게 만든 다음 공업지구가 스스로 사멸되게 하자는 데 있다”고 주장했다.
북한 노동당 기관지 노동신문도 이날 논평에서 “지금 개성공업지구사태와 관련하여 절박한 문제는 단순히 남아있는 물자들의 처리문제가 아니라 공업지구 자체의 정상화”라고 강조했다.
그러나 통일부 당국자는 조평통 대변인 담화와 관련, 당국간 회담 제의에 대한 언급은 없고 오히려 이를 ‘오그랑수’라고 폄훼했다며 비판했다.
이 당국자는 “북이 남북관계 개선에 진정으로 관심이 있다면 민간기업과 단체에 접촉할 것이 아니라 하루속히 당국간 대화에 나와서 신뢰를 쌓는 게 중요하다”고 말했다.
그는 “기본적으로 먼저 단절시킨 개성공단 군통신선 복원하고 우리가 제의한 당국간 실무회담에 호응해서 원부자제 반출 문제부터 해결해야 한다”고 거듭 촉구했다.
당국자는 북한의 성명을 당국간 대화제의를 거부하면서 민간에 대해서만 접촉하는 또 하나의 ‘남남(南南)갈등’을 유도하기 위한 시도로 규정, “진정성 측면에 문제가 있다”고 덧붙였다.
국회 외교통일위 소속 민주당 홍익표 의원은 지난 21일 북한이 우회적으로 입주기업의 방북 및 물자 반출에 협력하겠다는 제의를 했으나 통일부가 거부했다고 주장했다. 통일부는 제의가 들어온 바 없다고 반박했다.
조평통은 또한 정부가 6•15 공동행사 개최를 불허한 것과 관련, “6.15 공동행사에 대한 남측 단체들의 참가를 즉시 허용해야 한다“며 ”만일 남남갈등이 정 우려된다면 당국자들도 통일행사에 참가하면 될 것”이라고 말했다. (코리아헤럴드 / 신현희 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
N.K. signals willingness to talk Gaeseong normalization
Seoul remains skeptical toward latest proposal
By Shin Hyon-hee
North Korea said Tuesday it is ready for talks on normalizing the Gaeseong industrial town with businesses and semi-official complex managers from South Korea.
But Seoul officials remained skeptical toward the latest overture which signaled the North’s changing attitude but is still short of their demand for government-level talks.
“We’ve already approved the visit by entrepreneurs of the industrial district, and when they come we will proceed with any discussions over its normalization including the withdrawal of their products,” the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement.
The agency dismissed Seoul’s safety concerns for the businesspeople, saying South Korea can send members of the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee along with them.
The committee in charge of cross-border affairs said the issue of production materials is not to be settled through formal talks in nature, adding “it would not even be raised in the first place if the project becomes resumed and normalized.”
“Stubbornly insisting on working-level talks creates an obstacle for solving the problem and will result in dragging out the current suspension, ruining equipment and materials and, eventually, the district’s extinction,” it added.
The Rodong Sinmun, a mouthpiece of the North’s ruling Worker’s Party, also said in a commentary that “the pressing issue with regard to the Gaeseong crisis is not simply how to cope with the remaining goods but the industrial park’s normalization.”
Last week, 243 employees from 103 firms sought to cross the border to ship out remaining raw and subsidiary materials and finished goods left in Gaeseong since their own pullout in late April.
Lawmaker Hong Ihk-pyo from the opposition Democratic Party said the North had indicated its readiness to accept their request but the ministry dismissed the offer, demanding official talks be held in advance for the recovery of the severed military hotline to maintain communication and clear safety concerns.
The ministry criticized the CPRK statement for billing its dialogue proposal as a “trick.”
“It doesn’t cover what to do with the government at all,” a senior ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The ministry saw the latest overture as another attempt by Pyongyang to divide the public and spark ideological strife by setting out against the authorities while dealing solely with private entities.
It has been emphasizing the government’s predominant role in resolving the quarrel and reactivating the joint factory park.
“If the North is truly interested in improving inter-Korean relations, it should not contact civilian businesses and organizations but come forward as soon as possible for governmental talks and build trust,” the official said.
“We should basically reinstate the disconnected military communication line nd then resolve the retrieval of raw and subsidiary materials during talks.”
In a separate statement, the CPRK blasted Seoul’s disapproval of its proposal to host a joint event to commemorate the watershed 2000 inter-Korean summit.
The North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration last week sent a fax to its South Korean counterpart, suggesting the celebration take place in Gaeseong or Mount Geumgang.
“The participation of South Koreans in the event must be approved immediately,” the CPRK said. “If there are concerns about any discord in the South, its government officials can also participate.”
The landmark agreement adopted between the late leaders, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il, called for efforts for independent unification, reunions of separated families, economic, cultural and social cooperation, and government-level dialogue.
The two Koreas held joint annual celebrations at Mount Geumgang from 2001 until a South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier in July 2008. A series of provocations ensued, prompting then-President Lee Myung-bak to harden his stance and crippling other inter-Korean programs. (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
N.K. signals willingness to talk Gaeseong normalization
Seoul remains skeptical toward latest proposal
By Shin Hyon-hee
North Korea said Tuesday it is ready for talks on normalizing the Gaeseong industrial town with businesses and semi-official complex managers from South Korea.
But Seoul officials remained skeptical toward the latest overture which signaled the North’s changing attitude but is still short of their demand for government-level talks.
“We’ve already approved the visit by entrepreneurs of the industrial district, and when they come we will proceed with any discussions over its normalization including the withdrawal of their products,” the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement.
The agency dismissed Seoul’s safety concerns for the businesspeople, saying South Korea can send members of the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee along with them.
The committee in charge of cross-border affairs said the issue of production materials is not to be settled through formal talks in nature, adding “it would not even be raised in the first place if the project becomes resumed and normalized.”
“Stubbornly insisting on working-level talks creates an obstacle for solving the problem and will result in dragging out the current suspension, ruining equipment and materials and, eventually, the district’s extinction,” it added.
The Rodong Sinmun, a mouthpiece of the North’s ruling Worker’s Party, also said in a commentary that “the pressing issue with regard to the Gaeseong crisis is not simply how to cope with the remaining goods but the industrial park’s normalization.”
Last week, 243 employees from 103 firms sought to cross the border to ship out remaining raw and subsidiary materials and finished goods left in Gaeseong since their own pullout in late April.
Lawmaker Hong Ihk-pyo from the opposition Democratic Party said the North had indicated its readiness to accept their request but the ministry dismissed the offer, demanding official talks be held in advance for the recovery of the severed military hotline to maintain communication and clear safety concerns.
The ministry criticized the CPRK statement for billing its dialogue proposal as a “trick.”
“It doesn’t cover what to do with the government at all,” a senior ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The ministry saw the latest overture as another attempt by Pyongyang to divide the public and spark ideological strife by setting out against the authorities while dealing solely with private entities.
It has been emphasizing the government’s predominant role in resolving the quarrel and reactivating the joint factory park.
“If the North is truly interested in improving inter-Korean relations, it should not contact civilian businesses and organizations but come forward as soon as possible for governmental talks and build trust,” the official said.
“We should basically reinstate the disconnected military communication line nd then resolve the retrieval of raw and subsidiary materials during talks.”
In a separate statement, the CPRK blasted Seoul’s disapproval of its proposal to host a joint event to commemorate the watershed 2000 inter-Korean summit.
The North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration last week sent a fax to its South Korean counterpart, suggesting the celebration take place in Gaeseong or Mount Geumgang.
“The participation of South Koreans in the event must be approved immediately,” the CPRK said. “If there are concerns about any discord in the South, its government officials can also participate.”
The landmark agreement adopted between the late leaders, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il, called for efforts for independent unification, reunions of separated families, economic, cultural and social cooperation, and government-level dialogue.
The two Koreas held joint annual celebrations at Mount Geumgang from 2001 until a South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier in July 2008. A series of provocations ensued, prompting then-President Lee Myung-bak to harden his stance and crippling other inter-Korean programs. (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
