calendar>>May 23. 2009 Juche 98

Lee Myung Bak Group Accused of Misleading Public Opinion

Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the Central Special Zone Development Guidance General Bureau of the DPRK sent a notice to the south side to the effect that the preferential measures in the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) would be nullified. In this connection, the south Korean authorities have worked hard to mislead the public opinion at home and abroad, grumbling that the action taken by the DPRK was "an irresponsible measure" and "a unilateral measure" instead of repenting of their wrongdoings and making an apology before the nation.

Minju Joson Saturday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:

Since its seizure of power the Lee Myung Bak group has pursued an extreme policy of confrontation, totally denying the north-south joint declarations and the idea of "By our nation itself," and thus driven the inter-Korean relations to collapse. As a result, the foundation of the work in the KIZ has completely crumbled.

The north side may revise laws and regulations and norms regarding the KIZ and notify the south side of them and unilaterally put them into force as the KIZ is under its jurisdiction. No one can take issue with this practice.

The north side, however, offered the south side an opportunity of holding renegotiations with it, taking the desire of compatriots aspiring after the national reconciliation and cooperation and independent reunification and the fate of the south side's enterprises, in particular, into due consideration. Nevertheless, the south side busied itself kicking up a racket of anti-DPRK campaign, far from responding to the proposed working contact despite of sincere efforts of the north. This situation compelled the north side to reconsider its stand to seek a negotiated settlement of the issue.

The accusation made by the authorities and conservative forces of south Korea against the just step taken by the north side cannot be construed otherwise than a revelation of their sinister intention to turn the KIZ into a theatre of inter-Korean confrontation and totally close it. As a mater of fact, the group of the "Grand National Party" is undisguisedly calling for declaring the closure of the KIZ and the dismantlement of the enterprises. In the final analysis, the Lee group's bid to build public opinion critical of the north side's step is nothing but a ruckus intended to secure a justification for closing the KIZ.

The Lee group and conservative forces will not be able to escape a stern judgment of all Koreans, should they block the inter-Korean cooperation projects and completely close the KIZ, products of the June 15 joint declaration, though it is the only undertaking left. The Lee group had better behave itself, bearing this in mind.