On one hand, this could make good sense; if one is truly looking for reconciliation there no need to continually rehash the past. If Roh had included something about how the North should not expect an apology from South Korea either (though I’m not sure for what), the statement would have struck an almost fair balance. I say almost since it is North Korea after all that blew up a South Korean airliner, attempted to assassinate South Korean presidents, dug invasion tunnels into South Korea, etc. But Roh has nothing to lose as far as polls are concerned:

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said [on 19 Oct 2007] that he has no intention to ask North Korea to apologize for its past wrongdoings, including the North’s invasion of the South in 1950 and terrorist attacks on South Koreans.

Roh said inter-Korean relations should now change, and a South Korean request for an apology from the North would hinder the two countries’ efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

All of that of course overlooks the usual Korean hypocrisy when it comes to apologies from Japan. The Japanese Imperial family could apologize on live TV, immediately commit ritual suicide to express their sorrow, and Koreans would probably mill around, kicking the corpses while asking for more sincere apologies.

However, I’ll judge Koreans by their reaction to what Roh has said, as it’s possible some will point out the hypocrisy.

Also see the Nomad, ROK Drop, and the Marmot’s.