Hu Jintao Promises to Settle History Dispute Properly


By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun expressed ``strong regret’’ over China’s misrepresentation of the history of the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, Chong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Jong-min said Friday.

``It is very regrettable that the issue has been a bone of contention between the two countries in recent days,’’ Roh was quoted as saying during his meeting with Jia Qinglin, a high-level Chinese official, at Chong Wa Dae.

Roh also urged China to take quick and appropriate measures to address the issue, Kim explained.

Roh’s remarks came in response to Chinese President Hu Jintao’s suggestion, delivered to him by the visiting Chinese official, that the two countries cooperate closely to resolve the recent diplomatic row.

Hu told Roh through Jia that the history dispute over Koguryo would be solved properly if both sides deal with it with sincerity and respect.

``The relationship between China and South Korea has recently been affected to a certain degree by the Koguryo issue,’’ Hu said in a verbal message delivered by the China’s No. 4 official.

``We will be able to properly address each other’s concerns, with ample wisdom, if we respect each other and act with regard for long-term and strategic points of view,’’ the Chinese head of state was quoted as saying.

A close confidant to former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, Jia flew into Seoul on Thursday at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Kim One-ki. Jia heads the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a senate-like body in the world’s most populous country.

In preparation for Jia’s Seoul visit, China dispatched its vice foreign minister, Wu Dawei, here earlier this week to reach a five-point ``verbal understanding’’ on the Koguryo problem. In the loosely worded agreement, China promised that it would no longer attempt to misrepresent the history of Koguryo at the government level.

Most Koreans believe Koguryo, a kingdom of hunting tribes that ruled much of modern day North Korea and Chinese Manchuria from 37 B.C. to A.D. 668, is an essential part of their history. Both South and North Koreans take pride in the legacy of Koguryo, especially its independent spirit, military might and cultural achievements.

China has waged a systematic campaign for several months to distort ancient history, behind which foreign media suggested it was fearing a ``greater Korea’’ that would spill over modern borders after the reunification of the peninsula.

In April, China’s Foreign Ministry deleted references to Koguryo from pages on Korean history on its Web site. The move, which followed a series of similar ones by other Chinese academic and media organizations, was interpreted as an attempt by China to claim the kingdom as part of its own history.

South Korea demanded that the references be restored, but China, instead of accepting the demand, removed the entire description of Korea’s history up until 1948, when South Korea was established.

Before the two countries worked out this week’s agreement, Seoul had sent a strong warning to Beijing over the issue, saying a crisis in relations could occur.

A North Korean magazine, in the meantime, indirectly criticized China’s bid to distort ancient Korean history by publishing a detailed history of another Korean kingdom, Parhae.

``Parhae was a sovereign country that succeeded Koguryo and had a major role in developing Korean history while existing for more than 200 years from 698 to 926,’’ the monthly Choson said in its August issue. ``The people of Koguryo formed Parhae and its territory was almost identical to that of Koguryo.’’

It was the latest in a series of reports in the North Korean news media on Koguryo and Parhae. The North recently increased the volume of such reports in an apparent protest against what it sees as China’s bid to distort early Korean history. However, it refrained from directly criticizing its staunch ally.

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr