The 25th of this month marked the third
anniversary of President Park Geun Hye’s
administration, but the South Korean government has yet to resolve its strained
relationship with North Korea. In fact, that relationship is only worsening.
The Park administration has worked on its inter-Korean relationship under the “Korean Peninsula Trust Process” initiative,
which seeks to foster communication and cooperation between the two Koreas.
However, North Korea conducted a third nuclear test in February of 2013, less
than two weeks before Park assumed office. North Korea also closed down the
Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint economic venture between the two Koreas, in
April of that year. The shutting down of the complex shocked many, since it had
operated for eight years despite previous inter-Korean conflicts, such as North
Korea’s sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean navy ship,
and its shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, a South Korean territory in the Yellow
Sea.
The Park administration joined the
international community in taking a hardline stance against North Korea as a
response to the latter’s third nuclear test. It
responded to North Korea’s brinkmanship by pulling out
all South Korean workers of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, resulting in the reopening of the complex four months after the shutdown.
Also, by communicating with North
Korean high- ranking officials, the South Korean government also clinched
family reunions for the first time in three years and four months, in which
elderly Koreans who were separated from their families during the Korean War
(1950-1953) met one another for the first time in about six decades, in April
of 2014.
However, North Korea’s hollow attitude created a stalemate between the two Koreas. North
Korea has consistently requested an end to the joint military practice between
the U.S. and South Korea on the Korean peninsula, the sending of anti-Pyongyang
leaflets from private activist in the South, and the revocation of May 24th
Measures, in which former South Korean president, Lee Myung Bak significantly
cut down economic ties with North Korea as a response to the Cheonan sinking.
In addition, it exacerbated bilateral ties by launching short-range
missiles, and shooting anti-aircraft guns at balloons carrying leaflets.
Although South Korean government has
remained steadfast in its stance not to accede to the North’s demands, it is opening its doors for a dialogue with the North,
underscoring readiness at “any time to discuss any
issue.” In regards to the 24 core tasks pending, South
Korea said it is trying continue the momentum for inter-Korean dialogue and
readying for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula through establishment of
virtual cooperation between the North and South.
“Fails to grasp leadership” vs. “Building Up Trust between Two Koreas”
Experts are divided in their viewpoints
regarding the Park’s administration’s approach on North Korea over the last two years. They are,
however, in consensus that there is unquestionable need for intense evaluation
of conditions to achieve the breakthrough required to ameliorate relations on
the Korean Peninsula.
Chun Hyun Joon, head of the
Northeast Asia Peace Cooperation Research Institute, said, “The
inter-Korean relationship is stagnant. These two years, which could have been a
golden time, have passed by.” He believes that despite
the unfavorable environment of the last two years, the South Korean government
could still have taken leadership to move forward but failed to do so,
resulting in in the current impasse.
“There
are always impediments within inter-Korean relations, but cooperation between
the two Koreas can never be accomplished if we let those obstacles get in our
way,” he added. “The essential condition is the unwavering will to overcome the hindrances,
and most importantly, the leader’s role,” he asserted, adding that government flexibility is paramount to tackling these issues.
Some disagree and believe that the South
Korean government has consistently stood its ground in order to build trust
between the two Koreas despite adverse circumstances, such as North Korea’s third nuclear test and the aforementioned withdrawal of laborers from the Kaesong
Industrial Complex in 2013 following North Korea’s provocations.
Daily NK also spoke on these issues with Oh
Kyung Seob, a researcher at Sejong Institute, who said, “President Park Geun Hye failed to rebuild the inter-Korean
relationship that had been cut off during her predecessor’s administration.” However, he went on to
praise Park for her efforts to avoid being overly defensive toward North Korea
and holding her ground.
He added, though, that “it is now time for North Korea to
take an action because our government has made it clear that it is willing to
work on matters like the May 24th Measures among other issues.”
”It will be hard for the inter-Korean relations
to thaw this year”
This year will mark the 70th anniversary of
the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonization. The South Korean government
is planning to encourage a joint ceremony with North Korea to commemorate this anniversary and is working on setting
conditions to create a bedrock of cooperation between the two Koreas. Inter-Korean relations have the potential
to drastically improve if these plans come to fruition. However, the situation
will only deteriorate further into obscurity if North Korea refuses to work
together toward the implementation of these goals.
Most experts predict that in light of the
general elections next year, and the presidential election the following year,
a breakthrough in inter-Korean ties will become far more viable. If
momentum in the warming of relations is not realized this year, however, recovering
will only prove more difficult.
On this Chun said, “Because elections are to take place next year, we need to prepare for
a turning point this year. The new Minister of Unification will have to
actively work to gain the citizens’ consensus on reunification,
irrespective of their political views.”
Oh also weighed in on this issued, saying
that “the South Korean government should not yield to
the unjust demands from the North,” and underscored
that it should continue trying to induce inter-Korean dialogue.
Another expert on North Korea spoke with
the Daily NK on the condition of anonymity, expressing his standpoint on Hong
Yong Pyo, nominee for the Minister of Unification, “Hong
has done more studies in the general diplomatic and national security rather
than studies that focus specifically on North Korea. So I am not sure if he can
effectively control inter-Korean relationship.”
He
added that it would be better for Hong to be the vice-minister of Ministry of
National Defense, as he has much more experience in consulting on matters
related to that field.
