South Korea wimps out

Washington Times:

A day after the United States urged South Korea to take an active stance against what it contends are North Korea's illicit financial activities, Seoul refused to say whether it would take action and made clear it opposed any attempt at regime change in Pyongyang.
"When it comes to the North Korean regime, raising issues about it or pressuring it or sometimes wishing for its collapse, on that position of some Americans, we do not agree," South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said in a press conference yesterday.
"If the U.S. government tried to solve the situation through that process, there might be a rift or a difference of opinion between the two governments."
He added that whereas both governments had officially agreed to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue, there was, however, no dispute.
Mr. Roh's comments came one day after the U.S. Embassy released a statement in which U.S. officials requested Seoul join action against what it says are illicit financial activities by the North Korean government.
Some here think the U.S. move is part of a strategy to squeeze Pyongyang by cutting off its funding sources.
By "some Americans," Mr. Roh appeared to be referring to hard-liners in the Bush administration who favor toppling North Korean strongman Kim Jong-il.
Mr. Roh refused to respond to the U.S. accusations on North Korea.
"A detailed review needs to take place ... fact-finding and consultation between the two governments is necessary," he said. "I don't think it is now time for the Korean president to express an opinion on this issue. It is quite risky for the [Korean] president to get into this directly and draw a conclusion."

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Yeah, taking a stand against illegal activity by a rogue regime requires something like integrity. Don't want to get out front on something like that.