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NEW YORK -- ¡°While the United States struggles to ascertain whether North Korea is crossing an invisible line concerning its nuclear activities, South Korea struggles to keep the peace on the peninsula,¡± the New York Times reported.
The U.S newspaper said in an article written by its Seoul correspondent, ¡°News that North Korea may have joined an international nuclear black market, selling uranium hexafluoride to Libya, was a Page 2 article on Monday for South Korea's five most influential newspapers on May 24¡±
¡°Instead, journalistic excitement here is vibrating around a meeting on Wednesday between a North Korean general and a South Korean general, the first such meeting since the Korean War, half a century ago¡±
¡°Once again, Seoul and Washington are separated by a deep panic gap,¡± the NYT pointed out.
In regards to changes in Seoul's North Koreas policies, the NYT reported, ¡°With the liberal Uri Party of President Roh Moo Hyun set to take over next week as the majority of the new National Assembly, some critics see South Korea slowly moving to a neutralist policy toward North Korea.¡±
The newspaper quoted Kim Seong-min, the head of the North Korean defectors¡¯ Internet radio station Free NK, as saying, ¡°There is practically no media criticizing North Korea in South Korea these days,¡± and ¡°South Koreans are being manipulated by North Korea's 'One People' slogan, mobilizing sentiments to help people of the same race.¡±
¡°With few voices critical of North Korea heard on television, radio or in schools in recent years, young South Koreans increasingly tell pollsters that they do not see North Korea and its nuclear arms program as threats,¡± the NYT said.
The NYT quoted a South Korean Foreign Ministry official involved in the nuclear talks saying ¡°cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States "is very solid, and we are all in a position to persuade North Korea not to enrich uranium.¡±
(Kim Jae-ho, jaeho@chosun.com )
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