'North Korea Should Be More Realistic'

Monday, October 16, 2006

Last week the members of the United Nations selected a new secretary general -- the foreign minister of South Korea, Ban Ki Moon, 62. On Saturday in New York, Ban discussed his new role with Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth. Excerpts:

Q: The Security Council is voting on sanctions that will include some kind of blockade and inspection of certain goods entering North Korea. How will North Korea respond?

A: North Korea has declared very defiantly that if the Security Council adopts any sanctions, they will regard this as a declaration of war. This is very worrisome and shows total disrespect of the United Nations.

What role do you see for yourself as secretary general in this dispute?

I think that I would be in a much better position than any other previous secretary general -- as I come from Korea and have experience. I will try to coordinate with the concerned parties. If necessary, I will take my own initiative, which will include visiting North Korea and meeting with North Korean leaders.

Will you meet with President Kim Jong Il?

I hope so. When the secretary general of the United Nations visits [a country], normally the secretary general deals with the leaders of the member states.

People say that Kim Jong Il is not so normal.

But he has met many leaders of the world.

Some argue that the recent test is a reaction by North Korea to the economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. on the Macao-based Banco Delta Asia in 2005 right after North Korea and the U.S. appeared to have arrived at a political deal.

First of all, the financial measures imposed on the North Korean accounts in Banco Delta Asia were because of the suspicion of North Korean illicit activities, including counterfeiting [of U.S. currency]. It's wrong that North Korea has linked this issue to the six-party process.

[Recently] the American government has said that if and when North Korea returns to the six-party talks, they will be prepared to have bilateral discussions . . . on all pending measures, including these financial restrictions.

Shouldn't the U.S. have had bilateral talks with North Korea previously?

The South Korean government has been asking the U.S. to engage in bilateral talks with the North. The U.S. government's position is not to directly engage with North Korea on bilateral issues except within the framework of the six-party talks.

Isn't this a mistake?

I would not characterize it. That's American policy.

Do you see a way to go back to negotiations and to stop North Korea from conducting further tests, or will North Korea test again in reaction to the U.N. sanctions?

I think North Korea should be more realistic. Considering the economic and political difficulty they are facing, they should have taken a wiser path.

Is there hope that you can deal with a regime like North Korea's?

The Security Council resolution is primarily [focused] on taking sanctions against North Korea, [but] in the resolution there is a paragraph leaving the door open for North Korea to come to the dialogue table. We need a two-pronged approach. While we take a very strong and stern message and deliver it to North Korea, at the same time we need to leave some room for negotiations so as not to escalate the situation.

Do you worry that North Korea may feel so isolated that they'll pursue a closer alliance with Iran and Pakistan?

There is a concern about the proliferation of materials relating to weapons of mass destruction and nuclear materials and missiles. . . . There were some dealings and cooperation between A.Q. Khan of Pakistan and North Korea. It's my understanding that at this time they don't have such close cooperation.

Do you regard the "sunshine policy" as a failure?

I don't think it's a total failure. The philosophy and objective of engagement is a good one. If we have to blame someone, it's North Korea. We have been trying to help North Korea in humanitarian matters and exchanges and cooperation. . . . But the testing of nuclear weapons was a total display of disrespect to our goodwill.

Hard-liners argue that the North Korean regime has never changed its behavior.

You should sympathize and appreciate how difficult it is for the South Korean government and people to deal with the North. Peace and prosperity come when we have a good and solid relationship with the North. When there is a crisis like this, the South Korean people are affected in a very negative way.

What do you want to accomplish as secretary general?

Development is the key issue. Without the eradication of poverty, you will always see conflicts.

What do you plan to do about U.N. reform?

U.N. reform is my top priority. The United Nations should be reborn to be able to address all the challenges more objectively and efficiently. It's frustrating that people talk about the irrelevance of the United Nations. . . . We should change the culture by making the secretariat more professional, more accountable, more transparent, with a higher level of ethics.

So no more oil-for-food scandals?

That's right. I'll try to lead by example.