North Korea broke its promise. A North Korean midget submarine, caught in the nets of a fishing boat in Kokcho off the East coast, went aground while being towed by south Korean naval ships, just a mile from Tonghae naval base. The 70-ton submarine was first spotted entangled 20km east of Sokcho and some 40km south of the northern border line.

In September 1996, a 320-ton North Korean intruder submarine ran aground on a beach in Kangnung, some 70km south of Sokcho. It triggered a massive manhunt, in which 24 of the 26 crew members were killed while one was captured alive and the others unaccounted for. eleven of them were found executed by their colleagues to evade capture by South Korean security forces. A 53-day manhunt ensued and fire fights left 28 more dead including 15 soldiers and civilians from the South.

Sprangly enough the intrusion came at a time when North korean was trying to break its international isolation and had just held a high profile seminar to attract investors to a new free-trade area. Afterward, South Korea would turn its back on the North and lead the effort to return North Korea to the international doghouse. On June 23, 1998, a second submarine ran aground in the east sea. The North kept silent for four days, later saying it was an accident cause by engine failure and demanding the return of the submarine and its crew. Then the North promised that no more submarine infiltration would occur.

The North a appeared to be trying to deal with the accident calmly. A few days later, however, the North Koreans tried to excuse the incursion saying that they had been searching for a submarine wrecked while training off the East Coast. North Korea demanded that the South immediately return its submarine along with the bodies of the deal crew.

But their infiltration plans had been so calculated that we could not forgive. After investigating the nine bodies with bullet wounds, South Korean military authorities said the intruders had killed themselves to avoid capture. All nine North Koreans were found shot to death, with four of them shot in the head. North Korean agents are instructed to commit suicide to avoid capture by South Korean forces. Along with the bodies, there were many weapons and much other infiltration equipments. The weapons show that the submarine was apparently on an infiltration mission. maps of South Korea's east coast were found on three bodies. Officials believed that three were well-trained special agents while the rest were crew members. There were three sets of American-made diving gear, and a South Korean soft drink container was discovered in a sack, hinting that some of the North Korean special agents from the submarine had already landed on south Korean soil.

The submarine was probably returning to the north after picking up or dropping off spies. The bodies of the North Korean crew were transported to a hospital and sources said Seoul would hand over the bodies to the North Korea, as it did in 1996. five letters were also discovered on the submarine, apparently from the North Korean's senior officers or colleagues, encouraging them on their mission "deep into enemy territory." The letters asked them to do their best on the mission so that they could "report to the Dear General (Kim Jong-Il) the successful accomplishment of the mission." The letters written before the submarine departed it home base were given by the team leader only when the submarine entered South Korean waters. The letters point out that the submarine and its crew were on an infiltration mission, rebutting the North Korean allegation that one of its submarines was missing due to mechanical problems during a routine training mission. The East Sea is often was called "submarine heaven" because of its depth and underwater topography. The South Korean Navy has been vigilant in monitor g the area but admits that stopping spy submarine infiltration into the area is difficult.

While the North infiltrates, what does the South do? Since taking office in February, President Kim has eased South Korean access to the North Korea by abolishing a ceiling on investment, easing regulations on trade and lifting a ban on visits by head of large corporations. He authorized the first group of civilians to cross the land border since the Korean war. The delegation of Hyundai shortage. All this is part of the president's "'sunshine policy," which aims at opening the North and expanding inter-Korean exchanges. It is hope the policy will bring about a fundamental and long-term change in the North's attitude toward South Korea.

Chung Ju-Yung, founder and honorary chairman of Hyundai Business Group, has explored investment opportunities including plans to run tourist ships to Mount Kumgang in the North starting this autumn. He helped to encourage the mood of reconciliation by working out an agreement with the North on Mt. Kumgang tourism projects. Chung, who returned home from North Korea after discussing joint business projects with the North, said South Koreans will be able to travel to Mt. Kumgang in the North as early as this fall. Some people who heard about Chung's negotiations dreamed that they could go the beautiful mountain.

President Kim has urged other countries to join in these overtures. During a trip to Washington in early June, Kim appealed to President Clinton to consider easing economic sanctions against Pyongyang. Clinton told Kim he might make concessions. Before doing more, Washington wants to see evidence that North Korea will renounce terrorism and abide by nonproliferation agreements, particularly on missile sales. You might think the North would be grateful to Kim, but it is always fearful that the United States and South Korea are conspiring against it. So while Kim was in Washington, the North Korean state broadcasts called him "a nation-seller down to the bone." This is familiar pattern.

At least two of Kim'[s predecessors- Kim YoungSam and NohTaeWoo- began their tenures by reaching out to the North only to see relations deteriorate. Each time the North lashes out, South Korean hard-liners ratchet up pressure on the president to isolate Pyongyang.

Though the South has economic difficulties, it is eager to help the North as its brother. But this latest submarine incident has poured cold water on the South's plans. South Korea has demanded that North Korea apologize for the recent infiltrations. If North Korea refuses to apologize for its attempt to infiltrate the South, South Korea will not permit the Hyundai Business Group to donate cattle and develop Mt. Kumkang. North Korea still claimes that its submarine drifted into South Korea territory due to an engine problem and flatly denied its involvement in the recent discovery of the body of an armed agent with water craft designed for landing purposes. The North's submarine incursion proved again that it is still trying to communize the South by force. similar incidents will continue to take place as long as the North does not change its current policy on the South.

Consequently the south's aim should be to engage the North and induce it to change so that it will not commit such acts in the long run. If the North accepts the South's proposal, we could create one nation. It is possible because we are essentially a peace-loving people.