Bright But Tortuous Road for Inter-Korean Relations

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 27, 2001

Bright But Tortuous Road for Inter-Korean Relations

The resumption of inter-Korean ministerial-level talks after two months of stalemate broke down on November 14 as the two sides failed to iron out difference over Seoul's highetened security alert following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

At the sixth inter-Korean ministerial talks held at the Mount Kumgang in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on issues of divided family reunions and economic cooperation meetings, among others, the DPRK expressed its anger over South Korea's heightened security alert, including anti-terror measures, diplomatic activities and military drills after the terrorist attacks.

Denouncing the alert directed against the DPRK, Pyongyang insisted that South Korea abolish it as a precondition for implementation of bilateral agreements while South Korea maintained that it is aimed at protecting citizens and foreigners from terrorists in the country.

The talks ended resultless without even setting a date for the next round of talks, causing strong reactions from both sides.

South Korean ruling Millenium Democratic Party (MDP) expressed deep regret over the fruitless talks while the opposition Grand National Party(GNP) demanded the government give up its Sunhsine Policy toward the DPRK.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang said Seoul is pursuing a hostile policy, accusing the latter of deserting the fundamental spirit of the South-North Joint Declaration signed at the first inter-Korean summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on June 13-15 last year.

There are mounting concerns that inter-Korean ties once again have come into a "cooling-off" period which will last for a considerable time.

Looking back history of inter-Korean relationship after the Korean Peninsula was divided in 1945, dialogue and stalemate alternated frequently.

Just in terms of one year and half following the first inter- Korean summit, the world has seen ups and downs in inter-Korean relationship.

At the summit, the two Kims signed the Joint Declaration and promised to cooperate in various sectors, establish a peace mechanism and realize Kim Jong Il's return visit to Seoul. It received international acclaim, for which, Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

After that, both sides held several rounds of fruitful ministerial talks, leading to three times of separated family reunions, the first inter-Korean defense ministers' meeting and reconstruction of the inter-Korean railway and highway, exchanges in such fields as sports and culture and humanitairan sector.

However, the inter-Korean ties suffered a major challenge early this year. Washington adopted a tough policy toward the DPRK when George W. Bush became U.S. president.

Although it dealt a serious blow to the inter-Korean ties and Kim Dae-jung's Sunhine Policy toward the DPRK, it showed some relaxation in August when President Bush said after a careful policy review, his administration would like to resume talks with the DPRK.

And in September, the fifth inter-Korean ministerial meeting was held in Seoul. Yet in November, the sixth ministerial meeting ended fruitless over the alert.

Many, if not fundamental, changes in inter-Korean ties have taken place since the first inter-Korean summit as most key agreements have not been materialized.

But the inter-Korean relations are undergoing a positive change for the better due to the overall international trend toward peace, co-existence and co-prosperity.

It will take time and patience to see improved inter-Korean ties as the two sides have developed different ideologies, social systems and regligions before Washington and Pyongyong normalize their relations.

The DPRK-U.S. relationship progressed substantively to the point where Clinton considered visiting Pyongyang personally just before ending his presidency. Before that, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had visited Pyongyang and DPRK Vice Marshal Cho Ming Rok visited Washington.

DPRK ambassador to the United Nations Li Hyong-chol said in his statement to the UN General Assembly on November 13 that Pyongyang will resume talks with Washington only when its policy matches the level of the Clinton government.

"Resumption of the DPRK-USA dialogue will only be possible when the present U.S. administration gets rid of its Cold War mentality and adopts a stance at least at the level of the one taken by the Clinton administration in the last period of its term of office," the ambassador said in the statement.

Really in the same boat, Seoul and Pyongyang are the only direct parties to settle the Korean Peninsula issue, which should be resovled through dialogue and cooperation between themsleves although the issue is closely connected to others.

The prospects for the inter-Korean relationship are bright, but with a tortuous road.

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