Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo gives a briefing at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan, Seoul on Oct. 5. For Now, the Northern Limit Line Is Non-Negotiable S.Korea 'Taps UN Command on Sea Border' Defense, Foreign Ministers to Accompany Roh to North Sea Border 'Probably' on Inter-Korean Summit Agenda Northern Limit Line not a Border: Roh They Just Can't Leave the NLL Alone Pride and Ambition of the Korean Military Rash Words on the Northern Limit Line N.Korea Violated NLL 135 Times Since 2001 Proposal to For Peace Zone 'Came From S.Korea' The President, the Defense Minister and the NLL Seoul Hints at Flexibility on NLL Korean Defense Ministers Clash Over Sea Border To the South Korean Defense Minister Korean Defense Ministers Stuck Over NLL Defense Ministers End Talks Without Agreement on NLL

Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo has reportedly vowed to remain firm in his determination to defend the Northern Limit Line after President Roh Moo-hyun said last week regarding the NLL as a border between the two Koreas was a misunderstanding. “If I should ever change my position on this, I'm no longer Kim jang-soo,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Kim made the remark to his staff recently, it was claimed Sunday. The government drew flak by agreeing at the latest inter-Korean summit to establish a “peace zone” and joint fishing area around the NLL, a matter Kim himself will have to discuss in inter-Korean defense ministers' talks slated for November.

The Defense Ministry is refraining from any official comments on Roh's remarks, apparently concerned that any mention of the discrepancy in views would be seen as an act of disobedience. The ministry has officially treated the NLL as the maritime border in the west sea, and battles provoked by North Korean incursions have claimed South Korean lives.

Kim made headlines in Pyongyang during the second inter-Korean summit early this month by shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il without bowing his head. He reportedly told his staff this was deliberate since he is the chief of a 680,000-strong military.

During the farewell luncheon for the South Korean delegation on the last day of the inter-Korean summit, Kim Jang-soo chatted with his North Korean counterpart Kim Il-chol. When Kim Il-chol called for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea, Kim Jang-soo told him, "The U.S. is a fear-inspiring country. You'd better maintain a good relationship with it," South Korean military sources said. The minister reportedly used the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan to illustrate his point.

(englishnews@chosun.com )