Joo Ho-young "Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Aids North Korea's Nuclear Development"… Park Ji-won "How Do You Know That?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 27th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, and Park Ji-won, nominee for the National Intelligence Service director, engaged in a heated debate at the National Assembly confirmation hearing regarding the correlation between inter-Korean economic cooperation and North Korea's nuclear development.

In response to Floor Leader Joo's question, "Does funding for inter-Korean economic cooperation such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex aid North Korea's nuclear weapons development?" Park replied, "I do not know the specifics," adding, "I still believe that if the 20 million pyeong of the Kaesong Industrial Complex had been developed as agreed and former President Lee Myung-bak had built dormitories, it would have led to significant economic development."

When Floor Leader Joo cited a professor's statement that "If North Korea used that money for nuclear development, it would be a bigger problem, and even if not, the opportunity cost of diverting funds for nuclear development is incurred," Park responded, "I think the professor is mistaken."

Regarding Floor Leader Joo's remark, "Wouldn't inter-Korean economic cooperation have helped North Korea's nuclear development even a little?" Park answered, "I do not know and have no such data."

When Floor Leader Joo pressed, "Calling a mother 'mother' is because she gave birth to you. (Isn't the relationship between nuclear development and inter-Korean economic cooperation logically the same?)" Park retorted, "Do not force logic on me," adding, "How would I know that?"

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