[imText1]After North Korea announced that the reunion of separated North Korean families would be suspended, the relationship between the South and North Korea has tightened. Also, it was reported that 150 workers were withdrawn from the construction site at the Mt. Gumgang Conference Center between the 20th and 21st.
It appears that North Korea announced the suspension of the reunions over discontent with South Korea for deferring the delivery of 5 million tons of rice.
However, could the rice shipment be what sparked North Korean discontent? It does not appear so.
Not only is North Korea illustrating that it can survive on it’s own despite the relationship breakdown between the North and South, but North Korea is also pressuring the South Korean government to end cooperation with the U.S. and Japan.
Within the UN Security Council, the U.S. and Japan focused on passing the North Korea resolution, while South-North cabinet talks were held between the 11th and the 13th. Undeniably, North Korea should have felt pressure from South Korea to return to the six-party talks resulting from the missile launches. It is possible that North Korea thinks that the South is cooperating with international counterparts and neglecting ‘Uriminzokkiri’ (being ‘Amongst Our Nation’), prompting the North to make the comment that its “Military First Politics” are protecting the South.
Statements were made that South Korea has sided with the U.N. Security Council’s resolution, and the fact that North Korea was omitted from the five-party talks was also discussed. These are the apparent reasons that North Korea suspended the reunification of separated families. Undoubtedly, it is paramount for the North to receive food assistance, yet what North Korea fears more is the South Korean government neglecting North Korea (‘Uriminzokkiri’) and cooperating with other countries.
If South Korea does join forces with the U.S. and Japan, then North Korea will only have China to depend on. However, as Kim Jong Il believes that relying solely on China will lead to the ruin of his administration. he is desperately trying to break the Korea, U.S, and Japan alliance.
Despite the current discontent, at present it seems that it would be difficult to fatally injure the South-North relationship.
If the South-North relationship were to collapse now, Kim Jong Il, who thinks that a break from the South’s firm policy against the North will come when the current Bush Administration completes it’s term, will likely deem his attempt to kill time a failure. Hence, the Kim Jong Il regime is hoping that South Korea will act as a shield until the Bush Administration completes it’s term.
Therefore, it appears that the suspension of the reunions, and the withdrawal of Mt. Gumgang Conference Centre construction workers is North Korea’s way of pressuring the South Korean Administration to return to a focus on national unity.
