"President Chen is taking the opportunity of Kim's visit to declare our position on safeguarding national dignity," the official said.
When asked about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' rumored disquiet about being informed of Kim's visit and itinerary by the Presidential Office only at the last minute, the official said that this was normal procedure since Kim's visit had been arranged by Lee Tsai-fang, approved by the Presidential Office and handed to the foreign ministry for execution.
"A number of people in the foreign ministry may still have grudges against South Korea for switching diplomatic ties to Beijing, so they are just using the occasion to show their discontent," the presidential official said.
As to the negative commentary from local media and some politicians, who questioned why Kim had been invited, the presidential aide stressed that President Chen respects and understands such criticisms, but also hopes that Kim's visit can be viewed as a normal diplomatic event.
The aide also noted that the visit earlier this year of a head of state from an African ally, whom the UN had banned from making overseas visits (for subsidizing civil wars in neighboring countries), had not drawn criticism from the press.
"Kim was once a prime figure in the region and he still has considerable influence in South Korea. At this difficult moment in Taiwan's foreign relations, Kim's visit carries a certain positive significance," said the aide.
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