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North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, thought to be plagued by chronic illness, needs massive food and economic aid from the South to help stabilize his country’s flagging economy, a key condition for handing over his power to his son.
For his part, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, facing crucial elections in June, needs a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations to counter mounting domestic opposition to his desperate schemes, such as a major restoration project involving four rivers and a mammoth city creation plan, which could determine the future of his conservative leadership.
The challenges both are facing forced the two sides to hold a series of secret meetings since late last year to set up an inter-Korean summit as early as April, according to sources here. Last week Lee hinted that the secret channel is still working, saying his meeting with the North's leader "could probably" take place within this year.
"I can't say for sure it (the summit) will be held soon but I think I can meet (Kim) within this year," Lee told BBC in Davos, where he attended an economic forum. It was the first time Lee mentioned the possibility of an inter-Korean summit this year.
On Tuesday, Lee reaffirmed his willingness to meet the North's leader, but promised he would never pay a "price" to the North in return for staging an inter-Korean summit – a reference to scandals in which his liberal predecessors offered millions of dollars or massive economic aid to the North in exchange for its agreement to the summits that took place in 2000 and 2007.
"The leaders of South and North Korea should meet under the principle that there will be no price for a summit," Lee said at a Cabinet meeting.
Lee's pointman on North Korea, Unification Minister Hyun In-taek also said that this year, the third of Lee's five-year term, is the right time for an inter-Korean summit.
"The overall situation is that 2010 is mutually a very important year, and it would be a good thing to discuss peace and stability on the Korean peninsula through a summit meeting," he told Tuesday’s forum with foreign correspondents in Seoul.
"Taking a practical approach, we are committed to dialogue – whenever, wherever, and at whatever level – if it promises progress in the denuclearization of North Korea or co-existence and co-prosperity of the two Koreas," he said.
The two Koreas now seem to be struggling to narrow differences over agenda items on the proposed summit. When Lee's key aide, Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee, and the North's spy chief Kim Yang Gon met in Singapore last October, they agreed to a draft summit accord on the nuclear disarmament, a supply of economic aid and information on the whereabouts of some 1,000 South Korean prisoners of war and citizens abducted to the North.
The biggest sticking point is the North's nuclear weapons drive, which has raised geopolitical risks on the peninsula. Seoul is calling for the proposed summit to produce tangible progress in the denuclearization process, while Pyongyang is insisting on direct dealings with the United States on the nuclear standoff.
The nuclear issue is "our first and foremost priority because it is no other than the North Korean nuclear conundrum that threatens the peace and prosperity of the peninsula and impedes the development of inter-Korean relations," Hyun said.
As the two direct parties, South and North Korea must engage in talks to solve the most fundamental problem on the peninsula – the North's nuclear issue, he said.
"An inter-Korean summit, if realized, should help make concrete progress in the denuclearization of North Korea," he said, stressing that the mere mention of the nuclear issue at a summit would be "meaningless."
North Korea has long called for direct talks with the United States to discuss the nuclear crisis, claiming the standoff was caused by Washington's "hostile" policy against the communist regime.
But the two sides are most likely to reach a compromise to arrange a summit. The North itself has proposed the summit, through which it seeks to get much-needed massive food and economic aid.
Aid from the South is increasingly vital as the impoverished country is suffering from economic chaos following the Nov. 30 currency revaluation, which has undercut public loyalty toward Kim and his royal family.
"Without outside aid, the North's regime cannot stabilize the economy and restore the public loyalty to Kim," said a source who has contacts in the North. "Given Kim's worsening health condition, the North appears eager to have a summit as early as possible," he said.
The South's Lee is also expected to tone down his conditions for the summit as he wants to show to the world that the peninsula is safer and more attractive to investors ahead of hosting the G-20 Summit in November.
“Any inter-Korean summit would aim to promote peace and stability on the peninsula,” which remains technically in a state of war as the 1950-53 armed conflict ended without a peace treaty, Hyun said.
