[imText1]While North Korea’s nuclear possession declaration and its persistent delay to participate in the six party talks are creating a difference in disputes, there are many interpretations on North Korea’s underlying intentions of the “nuclear state” declaration.
For this reason, The DailyNK met Hwang Jang Yeop, the former International Secretary of the North Korean Worker’s Party, to hear his insights.
A few days ago, the North Korean foreign ministry officially declared “nuclear weapons possession” and “will to not participate in the six party talks.” What would be the reason behind North Korea’s current attitude?
Ten years passed since Kim Il Sung died and Kim Jong Il took over power. For the past decade, North Korea has not only suffered from starvation and poverty, but North Korean society is constanty suffering from insecurity and tension created by its “military-first politics.” For this reason, although to a minimum degree, there are some expressing discontent nowadays, which is increasing. The possibility of sudden coincidental happenings that can threaten the Kim Jong Il regime to erupt is in fact increasing. Therefore, Kim Jong Il is creating scenes that show he is fighting bravely against the US and Japan in calculation of building up his “dignity.”
In that case, why should we interpret NK foreign ministry’s statement as “regime control purpose”?
The “regime control purpose” is not the only purpose. Apart from the purpose in controlling the inside of the regime, it came out with the statement because it believes the situation is not in their favor for negotiations with the US and Japan.
I believe North Korea postponed the six-party talks to wait on the US president election, and after Bush took the administration for the second time, they felt a great amount of pressure to put up with the American hard-line policy. By planning to cause an opposite effect, which is to get more money and aid out of South Korea, US, and Japan, Pyongyang is showing that they can fight undaunted against the US. Soon, North Korea will submit a new request for aid from South Korea. They will continuously ask for more from the American side as well.
In that case, how should South Korean society respond?
It must approach the Kim Jong Il regime with principles. Can there be any particular answers to solve the North Korea problem? It is important that South Korea sticks to the principles of democracy which it has developed over a long period of time. The fundamental of the current North Korea problem is not “North Korea nuclear” but “the Kim Jong Il dictatorship in North Korea.” It is due to the Kim Jong Il regime that the North Korean people suffer and are not able to enjoy the same peace and security as South Korea.
What is the use of summits and other efforts when the root of the problem remains unchanged? It is the same with the United States. There is no need to threaten Kim Jong Il with a carrot policy or whip policy. All it has to do is oppose the dictatorship and pursue the development democracy. Follow the principles of democracy so Kim Jong Il will not start a war and if South Korea develops more politically, economically, and culturally, the number of followers of Kim Jong Il will decrease and there will be less cases where they will directly help Kim Jong Il. If South Korea and the US maintains a strong alliance, Kim Jong Il will not be able to detonate nuclear weapons even if it had hundreds of them. Therefore, we must be firm in our beliefs and deal with the present problem boldly and naturally.
How could Kim Jong Il alone declare itself as a “nuclear state” if there was not China’s silence? What would be the reason China continuously supports the Kim Jong Il regime?
Although China is enjoying successful liberalization, they did not fundamentally leave socialism. It is only that the group leader in China admitted that the ways of constructing socialism from the old Soviet model is wrong. That it is wrong to try to build socialism ignoring economic development and only putting forward the class struggle. For this reason, Chinese group leader is actively adopting market economy for its economic growth.
However that does not mean that China threw away their collectivism. We could say the core of socialism is principles of collectivism, and the government of China and communists are still pursuing the principles of collectivism.
Chinese leader group believes that for socialism to win, one has to win in an individualistic democracy system, which is the competition in capitalism. The competitors are the US and Japan. China still regards the US as a hegemonic power and that they must be wary. China pursues military power build-up based on economic growth. Yet it is highly watchful of the US and Japan approaching close to China politically and militarily although it wishes to use the US and Japan for their economic strength.
Therefore China cannot disregard Kim Jong Il. Certainly, China is putting forth all of its efforts for economic development and that is the main reason why it is strongly against Kim Jong Il initiating war with South Korea. However, it is also true that China is adequately using this militarily tense moment created by Kim Jong Il to its own benefit.
Does that mean China is supportive of the Kim Jong Il regime?
From what I experienced before meeting with Chinese Communist leaders, individually, they despise Kim Jong Il. However, what they despise even more is the thought that after Kim Jong Il regime is overthrown, the Korean peninsula will reunify with South Korea’s lead. China believes the South Korea-led reunification will be victimized by the “American force present as far as the Yalu River.” Therefore, while it opposes North Korea initiating any war effort against South Korea, it stubbornly holds a position that is against Kim Jong Il taking any kind of military action.
Could we not say at least China “says what needs to be said” to the Kim Jong Il regime?
Ten years ago, after Kim Il Sung died, Chin tired to convince Kim Jong Il of “reform and liberalization.” However, Kim Jong Il refused. This was because if North Korea liberalizes in the same way China did, putting emphasis on collectivism, then North Korea’s “Suryung idolism” will disappear. China did not like North Korea’s position on this, but it felt threatened that if not through Kim Jong Il, South Korean and American influence will rapidly spread throughout the entire Korean peninsula. Therefore, we could say that China has a given a suiting role for Kim Jong Il to play.
Therefore China only patiently observed North Korea continuously creating conflict with the US and Japan through nuclear development and threat of a war as well as the growing pro-North Korea sentiment in South Korea. Is there not a possibility of South Korea’s anti-America sentiment turn into pro-China sentiment? There nothing to lose for China. For this reason it seems as through China is telling North Korea to confront US to the acceptable degree while making sure to obtain economic assistance from South Korea and US as well. All China is doing now is to prevent North Korea from starting a war, but China does not have much influence over other areas.
The governments of South Korea and US seem to expect “Chinese mediation.”
Mediation? That is nonsense. First of all, Kim Jong Il is still a useless entity for China. If China and Kim Jong Il are on the same side, could they carry out fair play?
It is very likely that the US will push for a stronger “North Korean economic isolationist policy.” What kind of consequences could this bring?
It will do not do much. China is supporting everything for Kim Jong Il to maintain his regime. There is a funny analogy, that if 1.3 billion people contribute one spoonful of rice per person, Kim Jong Il will have no problems in maintaining his regime. I think such a policy does not hold great significance.
As to end the interview, I would like to request a few comments for DailyNK readers.
A few days ago I heard that some people are trying to build a school for North Korean defector youth, but people in the area are strongly against it. I felt distressed. I ask South Korean people to feel more brotherly love for the North Korean defectors. If they cannot even embrace the defectors in South Korea, could they prepare for the reunification?
