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Minister of Unification Jeong Se-hyun said Thursday that South Koreans' views of North Korea and reunification were still prejudiced and sometimes extreme, despite North Korea's recent changes. The remark, in which Jeong said Pyongyang was opening its doors to the world and improving its economic system, was made in a report Jeong contributed for the November issue of the journal "Unification Korea," which marks the 20th anniversary of the publication's founding.
"The reason people have prejudiced views toward the North is that the seemingly faraway reunification has come closer to becoming a reality, producing much chaos and conflict," Jeong said. "But the 'I am right, you are wrong' kind of extreme attitude is unsuitable as we prepare for reunification - an open mind based on trust and faith is needed."
Jeong said that people should look at North Korea's changes not as tactical or strategic changes but as symbolic, meaningful or fundamental changes. He acknowledged hat the speed of change in the North may be slow, due to the rigidity of the system, and the apprehensions of reunification. But he added that if a mere bubble of transformation bursted, it would lead to fundamental change in North Korea.
(Kim In-gu, ginko@chosun.com )
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