By Reuben Staines
Staff Reporter

International leaders and scholars gathered in Seoul yesterday to commemorate the historic inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang five years ago and discuss ways to reinvigorate the reconciliation process it began.

Former President Kim Dae-jung, who grasped hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in the emotional June 15, 2000 meeting, told the conference at the Shilla Hotel that the summit was ``very successful’’ in opening business and social exchanges between the two Koreas. But he then went on to describe the emergence of the nuclear standoff in late 2002 that has weighed heavily on burgeoning inter-Korean engagement.

``The hope of a bright future spread among the Korean people,’’ he said, remembering the months following the summit. ``However, U.S.-North Korean relations fell into stalemate, and not much progress was made thereafter.’’

Kim was joined at the conference by East Timor President Xanana Gusmao, former Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and dozens of academics to tackle the theme: ``From Stalemate to New Progress for Peace in Korea.’’

Also in attendance, Donald Gregg, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and chairman of the Korea Society, commented that American support for inter-Korean engagement initiated by the summit has been limited following the election of President George W. Bush.

South Korean and U.S. perceptions of the communist North have diverged since 2000 leading to strain in their traditional alliance, he said.

``The Pyongyang summit retains its powerful influence on Korean thinking,’’ Gregg said. ``The North became less of a perpetual, belligerent threat, and began to be seen as a prodigal son, or a long lost brother fallen on hard times. The sense of danger faded, and the sense of kinship emerged.’’

The Bush administration, meanwhile, remained distrustful and unwilling to negotiate with the North, he said.

In a videotaped address, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev also expressed regret that reconciliation has not proceeded faster on the Korean Peninsula.

``If we had used the chances that opened up after the end of the Cold War, we would have had conditions more conducive to solving your problem as well,’’ Gorbachev said.

Presenting China’s perspective, Qichen stressed Beijing and Seoul are the countries most directly effected by North Korea and should take a primary role in resolving the protracted nuclear crisis.

``Other relevant parties should create favorable conditions for this,’’ he said, implying that the Bush administration needs to show greater flexibility toward the North.

The international conference was organized by the Kim Dae-jung Presidential Library and Yonsei University.

rjs@koreatimes.co.kr