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New panel launched to review N.K. policies of preceding conservative gov't

All News 11:36 September 20, 2017

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's unification ministry launched a new committee of civilian experts Wednesday to review previous conservative government's North Korea policies and offer policy recommendations.

The nine-member panel on policy reform held its first meeting as the government of liberal President Moon Jae-in seeks to set a North Korea policy that can survive through succeeding administrations regardless of their ideology, it said.

The committee is likely to mainly review whether policy decisions made under the presidency of Park Geun-hye, Moon's ousted predecessor, were appropriate in terms of inter-Korean relations.

It is expected to focus on the closure of a joint industrial park and the suspension of humanitarian assistance to the North, as well as other issues.

Seoul shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test and long-range rocket launch in 2016, ending the last symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation.

At that time, the government said that the move was aimed at preventing money generated by the factory zone from being funneled into the North's nuclear weapons and missile development.

The composition of the panel may spark a row about neutrality, as most of its members have liberal perspectives toward North Korea issues.

A ministry official said, "As the committee is aimed at recommending what needs to be improved from the previous government's policy, experts with liberal views (have been appointed) to fill the panel."

This file photo shows the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the now-shuttered joint industrial compound. (Yonhap)

This file photo shows the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the now-shuttered joint industrial compound. (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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