With the third inter-Korean summit taking place, regional attitudes are revealing differences in opinions among North Koreans regarding what will be discussed by the leaders of the two countries.
In contrast to the popular excitement that surrounded the inter-Korean summit in April, North Korean border area residents are showing a much different attitude, a Ryanggang Province-based source told Daily NK on September 17.
“The first inter-Korean summit was welcomed by people here because they thought it’d reinvigorate inter-Korean exchanges and lead to great economic growth, but the general lack of improvement in the inter-Korean relationship over the past several months hasn’t led to high hopes for the [third] summit,” he said.
“There was the US-DPRK summit that followed the first inter-Korean summit, but nothing really happened,” the source said. “People are more interested now in their own personal lives.”
“The floods this year and the poor harvest led people to hope for support from South Korea” the source said, but added that “the two Koreas have met three times now without any headway so people are not holding up much hope.”
A source based in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK, “There was a lot of rumors that South Korea would send rice to North Korea after the first summit, and some people even thought that this actually happened because the price of rice fell somewhat at the time […] But the price went up again, and so many were disappointed they couldn’t buy South Korean rice.”
Conversely, there are some living in inland areas who corroborated receiving the same lectures but greatly anticipate economic cooperation and exchange with the South.
“People think more exchange with South Korea is really important and are full of anticipation. There’s a lot of ‘I bet that’s what they’re going to talk about,’ going around regarding the inter-Korean summit,” a source in South Pyongan Province said.
“We’d be much better off if we had more economic exchange with the South. Most are completely disinterested in the political happenings–they’re looking for improvement in their lives.”
“Party officials have held a number of lectures and other meetings and are talking about the second inter-Korean summit like there will be some kind of big event happening between the two Koreas in the future […] They have not mentioned whether anything will become different. They are just praising Kim Jong Un,” a source in Pyongyang added.
Both sources reported that specific lectures held in regard to the previous two inter-Korean summits have focused on five major points:(1) the inter-Korean summit is a necessary start to combining our strength as a people and moving out of hardship, (2) President Moon Jae In was impressed with the magnanimous character of Kim Jong Un, (3) extensive inter-Korean exchanges will take place, (4) relations with the United States are improving thanks to Kim Jong Un, and (5) Kim Jong Un is putting all his energy behind improving people’s standards of living.
*Ha Yoon Ah also contributed to this report.
