Consul General of South Korea Shinil Park repeatedly condemned North Korean actions but discounted the possibility of war between the two countries in a speech last night.
Park gave his speech, called "North Korea: Nuclear Capability and its Threat Towards International Security," to a crowd of about 100 in 105 Dartmouth Hall.
The dispute between the two countries centers on North Korea's refusal to allow international inspection of its seven nuclear sites.
The inspection would insure North Korea is complying with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which forbids the country from developing or possessing nuclear weapons devices.
Park downplayed the threat of war, or a preemptive military strike on North Korean nuclear sites. "The emphasis is on diplomacy at this stage," he said.
"I don't think North Korea will take any vast action or a suicidal attempt at provocation," he said.
Park condemned the North's aggressive posture during the confrontation. It is "reflective of their Stalinistic attitude ... [to them] politics and negotiations are another form of war," he said.
"North Korea is notorious for its past record of terrorism, violence, its irrational and unpredictable acts of terrorism against South Korea," he said.
Park said he is grateful to the United States for its support of the South, which includes about 35,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. "We do appreciate their clear-cut position and approach," Park said.
Park said he is not overly optimistic about a conflict resolution in the near future. "It sometimes seems that this dilemma will never end," he said.
But Park said he believes time and international opinion are working on the side of South Korea.
There is a "virtual united international front in opposition ... to the North's defiance," Park said. "Time is against the North and so is the world community."
Park spoke several times of possible reunification, saying he hopes the North will pursue "peace, prosperity, reform and eventual Korean reunification," rather than isolation, but acknowledged that the idea has "just fizzled out, which is very unfortunate."
South Korea and the United States demanded both inspections of North Korean nuclear sites and talks between the two countries.
South Korea recently withdrew demands for talks, because it believes they are useless, Park said.
