As the situation on the Korean Peninsula fluctuates with suggestions of a preemptive strike by the US, each political party has shown different approaches to the question of ‘dialogue first’ vs ‘nuclear disarmament first,’ ahead of the 19th presidential election. The North Korea policy of each presidential candidate was the headlining topic during a recent panel discussion Seoul hosted by the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation and the Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea.
The first speaker was congressman Kim Kyung Hyup of the Minjoo Party who said, “The basic policy of candidate Moon Jae In is to build a strong and responsible country with a robust defense policy to properly resolve North Korea’s provocations. To solve the North Korea issue, a sanctions-first/dialogue-later policy is needed, that is, sanctions are a means to induce dialogue with North Korea.”
“The most important aspect for suspending North Korea’s nuclear development, improving North-South relations and eventually signing a peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula, is to ensure South Korea plays a leading role in pursuing these goals,” Kim added.
Kim pointed out the importance of formalizing inter-Korean dialogue such as the July 4th North-South Joint Statement and the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration. “We should achieve the goal of reunification through cooperation so as to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula and to let both Koreas prosper together,” Kim said.
In regards to inter-Korean exchanges, he said, “North-South economic cooperation projects including the Kumgang Mountain tour program and Kaesong Industrial Complex are very important. We should find ways to restart inter-Korean dialogue by lifting the May 24th measures.”
In response to Kim’s remarks, Congressman Yoon Young Seok of the Liberty Korea Party (formerly Saenuri Party) said, “I agree that conversation is important, but settlement of the nuclear issue must be achieved first. North Korea has not given up on nuclear development as a tool to maintain its hereditary dictatorship, and so far has upgraded its nuclear weapons in terms of technology and weight lightening almost to a level of combat readiness. In such a situation, peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula cannot be achieved unless the nuclear issue is resolved.”
“A North Korean nuclear missile is a serious threat and a potential reality. Therefore, peaceful reunification cannot be realized before the nuclear issue is settled. Unless the issue that has direct influence over the lives of the South Korean people is addressed, relations between the two Koreas cannot proceed to the next level,” Yoon emphasized.
“The inter-Korean issue is no longer a problem exclusively between the two Koreas, but a global issue. Dialogue-oriented efforts are of course necessary, but what is most needed is a firm principle to resolve the nuclear and missile issues. As China has also joined in sanctions against North Korea, it will become difficult to pursue peaceful reunification in the future if we loosen our pressure on the North.”
Senior congressman Lee In Bae of the center-right Bareun Party stated, “Regardless of the political positions of past governments, the North Korean nuclear issue has eventually become a problem despite efforts to improve North-South relations. Everyone agrees that economic cooperation and civil exchange is necessary, but without settlement of the nuclear issue, the improvement of the inter-Korean relations is bound to meet limits.”
He added, “We do not want North Korea to collapse or surrender, but there must be a card we can present when North Korea faces a difficult time. We can resume civil exchanges like building a sanctuary where wild animals can pass freely in the Kumgang and Sorak Mountain regions (after the nuclear issue is resolved).”
Kim Keun Sik, policy spokesman for the Central election committee of the People’s Party followed by noting that the issue of the North Korean nuclear problem and improvement of inter-Korean relations are going to be simultaneously pursued. If the nuclear issue enters a phase of dialogue, he said, inter-Korean talk regarding peace on Korean Peninsula will be pursued at the same time.
“When inter-Korean dialogue is resumed, we will create two-plus-two talks at the ministerial level. Dialogue between the Ministers of Unification and the Ministers of Defense of both Koreas will be formalized,” Kim asserted.
In contrast, Lee Yeon Jae, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Division of the presidential policy committee of the Justice Party said, “Applying pressure on North Korea through efforts including sanctions are necessary, but cannot be considered fundamental solutions. We should try to separate the nuclear issue from inter-Korean exchanges and fully resume dialogue.”
“In order to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, the two Koreas should show efforts to initiate dialogue at some point. Both governments must pursue policies to build military trust and relieve the tension,” Lee added.
Lee emphasized that there should also focus on the changes that are taking place in North Korean society apart from military provocations, like marketization and economic development. Issues including the expansion of cultural and civil exchanges, resumption of meetings for separated families, and the liberalization of access to North Korean media must be strategically managed in a long-term strategy, he explained.
Other participants on the panel included Professor Choi Dae Seok of Ewha Womans University, Lim Gang Taek, chairman of the KCRC policy committee, Kang Young Shik, chairman of the KNCCK policy committee, Ahn-Kim Jeung Ae, co-president for Women Making Peace, Park Chang Il, director of Korea Peace 3000, and Cho Han Bum, senior researcher of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
