North Korea will move towards reform despite nukes, says Roh
Posted: 27 February 2007 1541 hrs

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SEOUL - South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun said Tuesday he believes communist North Korea wants to move towards openness and reform despite developing nuclear weapons.

In a news conference, Roh said the North would give up its weapons of mass destruction if it feels its security is guaranteed.

"I believe North Korea will move toward openness and reform since its leaders, as long as they are not insane, will find no other alternative but to do so," Roh said.

He defended Seoul's past aid to its neighbour, saying it was designed to open up the reclusive state and did not help it develop nuclear arms.

"The reason that the North has developed nuclear weapons was that it felt threats from those who do not believe it will ever introduce reform and openness," Roh said.

"It developed nuclear weapons in order to stop the other side making threats, as it wants to engage in talks."

North Korea carried out its first nuclear test in October last year, sparking international condemnation and sanctions.

Following months of diplomatic wrangling, it agreed during six-nation talks in Beijing this month to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic aid and diplomatic benefits.

Roh was speaking as a Seoul delegation flew to Pyongyang for the first ministerial talks in seven months. The resumption of South Korea's food aid is expected to be high on the agenda.

He denied allegations by the conservative opposition Grand National Party that his government is preparing a second summit with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il as a political stunt before the December presidential poll.

"When the time is ripe for a second summit, we will hold our hands out to Pyongyang but this is not the right time," Roh said.

"The foremost things are the settlement of the North Korean nuclear weapons problem and the normalisation of inter-Korean relations. Without the settlement of these two issues, inter-Korean relations may not stand a chance of improving," said the president.

Kim Jong-Il has not yet made good on his promise to come to Seoul for a second summit.

He made the pledge when he met then-South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung in Pyongyang in 2000 for a landmark meeting which contributed to better relations between the two rivals. - AFP/ir