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President Roh Moo-hyun maintained his public silence Friday about North Korea¡¯s test launch of seven missiles two days earlier. Roh appeared in public for the first time since the test launches to preside over a forum for innovation in public organizations, but did not mention the missile issue. Including the time since intelligence about an imminent launch became more concrete in mid-June, Roh has been silent on an issue that drew condemnation from global leaders for 19 days now. At a celebration for Korean War veterans on June 25, he merely said, ¡°As the North Korean missile issue shows, the security situation on the Korean Peninsula can change at any time.¡±
All the president has demonstrably done over the issue is to preside over a ministerial meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and talk on the phone to U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday morning. It was not the president who called the National Security Council meeting supposed to be held in national emergencies.
Critics feel Roh is not doing enough as head of state of North Korea¡¯s immediate neighbor, saying the silence is particularly marked coming from a usually outspoken president. By contrast, Roh has been vocal in favoring the North, telling Koreans in Los Angeles in November 2004 that there was some sense in Pyongyang¡¯s attempt to obtain nuclear weapons, and promising ¡°many concessions¡± to the North during a Mongolia visit in May this year.
Cheong Wa Dae says the lack of response is rooted in a strategic decision. ¡°President Roh¡¯s response to the issue is a result of a hard decision not to exaggerate the security tensions the North¡¯s missile launches have created in the eyes of the public,¡± said Suh Choo-suk, the senior presidential secretary for security policy on Thursday. ¡°North Korea¡¯s intention is to inflate the issue, and a cool-headed and reasonable response can be a proper and effective way to thwart that intention.¡± Another official close to the matter said the missile test ¡°gave the U.S. a justification to further isolate North Korea, and Japan to pursue military expansion. It¡¯s only natural that we take a different position.¡±
In other words, the government fears that growing tensions will hurt South Korea. But Cheong Wa Dae is not saying so publicly or asking the public to approach the matter calmly, which has fueled speculation that the government has something to hide. Critics also point out that the president¡¯s silence fits in only too well with the government¡¯s policy of not provoking the North at whatever cost. Cheong Wa Dae on Friday said Roh had no plan to comment on the issue.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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