이인영 "되돌릴 수 없는 평화, CVIP 열어야"...미국은 '냉전동맹' 발언 반박<br /><br />"Small steps are better than no steps at all."<br />That's what South Korea's unification minister is saying regarding inter-Korean cooperation as communication between the two remains minimal to non-existent.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />Seoul's unification minister Lee In-young is once again calling for inter-Korean cooperation through "small steps."<br />He explained Monday that the two Koreas can facilitate peace through areas that are linked to the public's lives and well-being such as public health and disease prevention.<br />Stressing that small steps are better than no steps at all,... Lee noted the importance of incremental exchanges.<br />"Under the leadership of the two Koreas, we shall usher in an era of complete, verifiable and irreversible peace by cooperating with the international community."<br />This,... he said will ultimately help establish a peace process on the Korean Peninsula and resume stalled talks between Pyeongyang and Washington.<br />However, it's left to be seen whether the North will respond to the "small steps" proposed by Lee,... as the regime has bluntly criticized Seoul for not abiding by the inter-Korean agreement.<br />Lee's remarks last week that he believed Seoul and Washington could one day replace their 'military, Cold War alliance' with a 'peace alliance,'... has ignited controversy.<br />The U.S. State Department responded directly,... stressing the alliance goes far beyond their security ties to include cooperation on areas of the economy and human rights.<br />Moon Chung-in, special security advisor to President Moon Jae-in raised questions against the comments made by Washington.<br />"I cannot understand why the State Department has made such a critical comment. It's unfortunate as it looks like the U.S. has a biased view of Minister Lee In-young."<br />Seoul's unification ministry explained later through a formal response that it's an undeniable fact that the alliance began as a military alliance,... but developed into a value-shaped alliance based on democracy and pursuit of a market economy.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
